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BY   THE   SAME   AUTHOR: 

HANS     BRINKER; 

-  OR, 

THE   SILVER   SKATES. 

A     STORY     OF     LIFK     IN      HOLLAND. 
A  New  Edition,  with  Illustrations. 

One  vol  ,  121110,  cloth $1-50. 

Sent,  fast-paid,  on  receipt  of  price  by  the  Publishers, 

SCRIBNER,  ARMSTRONG,  AND  COMPANY    745  Broadway,  N°w  York, 


HOLLYHOCK,  HOLLYHOCK,  BEND  FOR  ME 
I  WANT  A  CHEESE  FOR  MY  DOLLY'S  TEA. 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES 


MARY    MAPES    DODGE 

AUTHOR  OF  "HANS  BRINKER,"  ETC 


NEW   YORK 
SCRIBNER,   ARMSTRONG,   AND   COMPANY 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874, 

BY  SCRIBNER,  AKMSTROXG,  AND  COMPANY, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


RivKRcin".  CAMPRIDCK: 

H.    O     HGUGHTON    AND  COMPANY. 


TO 

THE    CHILDREN. 


762974 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


ELFIN  JACK        ....                i 

THE  MAYOR  OF  SCUTTLETON 4 

FIRE  IN  THE  WINDOW 4 

COUSIN  JEREMY 

THINKING  ALOUD .6 

"  BYE,  BABY,  NIGHT  is  COME  " 

SNOW 9 

OH,   WHERE  ARE  ALL  THE   GOOD   LITTLE   GlRLS  ?         .           .           .  9 

CHRISTMAS  BELLS 10 

MY  LADDIE 12 

MARCH               12 


GARDEN  SONGS. 

LITTLE  GREEN  HUMMER 14 

GLUCK  !  GLUCK  ! 15 

A  LAD  OF  NANSOOK,  A  BALSAM-POD  TOOK         ....  16 

I  'D  SEARCH  THE  WORLD  OVER,  FOR  ONE   FOUR-LEAVED  CLOVER  l6 

FIND  ME  A  STEM  OF  THE  TIGER  LILY 17 

GOOD  MISTRESS  SUNDIAL         . , .  18 

SOME  ONE  IN  THE  GARDEN /  18 

WIRELOCKS,  CURLY-PATE,  TANGLE,  AND  Fi.oss  18 

OLD  BUM  OF  BUMBLEBY 19 

UNDER  THE  WILLOW,  OUT  OF  THE  RAIN 19 

LITTLE  POLLY  ALWAYS  CLEVER 20 

LIFT  UP  YOUR  FACE,  LITTLE  DAISY  ! 21 

I    KNOW   WHERE   THERE  'S    A    BEAUTIFUL  SHOE     ....  22 

HOBBLEDY  HOPS 23 

BRIGHT  LITTLE  BUTTERCUP 24 


viii  TABLE   OF  CONTEXTS. 

THE  ANTS 25 

BURS       .  26 

HOLLYHOCK,  HOLLYHOCK,  BEND  FOR  ME  ! 27 

THE  EVENING  PRIMROSE 28 

Ho,  DANDELION  !  MY  LIGHTSOME  FELLOW  !          ....  28 


SONG  OF  SUMMER 29 

LITTLE  BEGINNINGS 30 

MOONEY  AND   BLACKY 31 

THE  MOON  CAME  LATE  TO  A  LONESOME  BOG         .       .        .        .  *  32 

JOHNNY  THE  STOUT 32 

A  FARMER  IN  BUNGLETON  HAD  A  COLT 34 

THE  DRINKING-PAN 35 

THE  SHREWD  LAD  OF  COOLOO 36 

THERE  WAS  A  FINE  YOUTH  OF  PIKE'S  PEAK     ....         36 

STOCKING  SONG  ON  CHRISTMAS  EVE 37 

IN  TRUST 38 

A  SONG  OF  ST.  NICHOLAS 39 

FLOWERS 41 

THE  LITTLE  MOTHER 43 

AMONG  THE  ANIMALS 44 

OLD  DOCTOR  PAFF .45 

THE  LITTLE  GIRL  WHO  WOULD  N'T  EAT  CRUSTS        .        .  46 

POOR  LITTLE  TODDLEKINS 47 

SONG  OF  THE  DUCKS r  49 

THAT'S  WHAT  WE'D  Do -50 

LITTLE  PIPKIN 52 

AN  APRIL  MAIDEN 52 

THERE'S  A  FRAGRANCE  IN  THE  BLOSSOM  .....          53 

WAKE  UP,  BIRDIE  ! -54 

THE  DIFFERENCE  (THREE  OLD  LADIES) 55 

BILLY  BOY -58 

SHEPHERD  JOHN 60 

MY  WEEK 62 

BABY  IN  DREAMLAND 64 

THANKSGIVING .66 

BIRDIE'S  BIRTHDAY 68 

THE  STAR  FAMILY    .  .69 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS.  IX 

As  I  WAS  GOING 70 

Two  LITTLE  FROGGIES     .        .        .  • 70 

ONE  AND  ONE        ...               72 

BIRDIES  WITH  BROKEN  WINGS .73 

WILLIE'S  LODGER 74 

FOUR  LITTLE  PIGGIES  BOUND  FOR  A  FROLIC         ....  76 

SPINNING  YOUR  TOP 76 

GOOD  MORNING  ! 78 

LADY  BIRD  AND  DADDY  LONGLEGS 79 

WOULD  N'T  AND  WOULD .        .80 

NELL  AND  HER  BIRD   ....               ....  82 

THERE  WAS  AN  OLD  WEATHER-VANE 84 

DUMPY  DICKY       . 84 

HAVE  You  HEARD  THE  NEWS,  GOOD  NEIGHBOR?         ...  85 

THE  NEW  SLATE 87 

LITTLE  POT  SOON  HOT 89 

NELL'S  NOTIONS 90 

NEVER  A  NIGHT  so  DARK  AND  DREAR 91 

SNOW,  SNOW,  EVERYWHERE 92 

SOME  ONE  WE  CANNOT  HEAR 93 

A  STRANGER  IN  THE  ?EW 93 

THE  QUEEN  o'  MAY 96 

PUSSY'S  CLASS 98 

TWISTAN,   TURNEM,    LET   ME   SEE IOO 

WANDERING  JOE 100 

WHETHER  FAIR,  WHETHER  FOUL 101 

THE  RATS 102 

IN  THE  WOOD 106 

COMB  Music 108 

IN  THE  BASKET no 

COMING no 

THE  DAINTY  Miss  ROSE 112 

POOR  LITTLE  MOUSIE '       .        .  115 

WAITING  FOR  FATHER 117 

WHAT  SHALL  I  BUY  ? 118 

RUT-A-TUT-TUTS 119 

HALLOO,  OLD  SCUTTLE,  WHERE'S  YOUR  COAL?        .        .        .  120 

OH  No !      .        .        . 120 

THE  SANDMAN                                                                                .  122 


X  TABLE   OF  CONTENTS. 

TROUBLE  IN  THE  GREENHOUSE 125 

TEN  KINDS     ....       - 126 

HAVE  You  APPLES,  GOOD  GROCER? 127 

THE  OLD  WOMAN  OF  WIGG         .               128 

THE  BRAVE  KNIGHT  OF  LORRAINE 128 

THE  OLD  DOCTOR  OF  BRILLE I29 

FAIRY  TALES r3° 

OLD  CAN  AN'  MUST J33 

MOTHERLESS I33 

OLD  SIMON 137 

THE  LITTLE  MOTE i38 

WHEN  I  WAS  LITTLE 138 

WHAT  MAKES  BABY  BRAVE  AND  BRIGHT  ? 139 

THE  ALPHABET 140 

EARLY  TO  BED  AND  EARLY  TO  RISE 142 

THE  COOK'S  LITTLE  BOY 142 

HARRY 144 

THREE  WAYS 145 

TOM  OF  CLAPHAM 146 

WHAT  THEY  SAY 146 

ONE  STEP,  Two  STEP      . 147 

MELONS 148 

How  MANY  THINGS  IN  MY  POCKET? 150 

THE  GALLANT  OUTRIDERS 151 

BUSY  BEE  !  BUSY  BEE  ! 153 

DOBBIN'S  FRIEND          .                155 

THE  WAY  TO  Do  IT 156 

WILLY  AND  His  PIPE  .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  158 

I  HAD  A  LITTLE  SCOTCHMAN 160 

TROTTERY,  TROTTERY 161 

LAZY  Lou 161 

UP  IN  THE  MORNING  EARLY 162 

PINS  IN  THE  CARPET,  TACKS  IN  THE  FLOOR         .        .        .        .162 

IF  PUSSY  WERE  MADE  OF  LEATHER 163 

BE  CAREFUL 164 

FARM  LESSONS 165 

OUT  OF  THE  GROUND 166 

POOR  CROW  ! 170 

THE  WOODEN  HORSE 171 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS.  xi 

TINKER,  COME  BRING  YOUR  SOLDER       .        .        .        .        .        .  173 

THERE  WAS  A  RARE  BOY 173 

TAKING  TIME 'TO  GROW 174 

THE  NAUGHTY  BOY      . 176 

LITTLE  Miss  LIMBERKIN 178 

THE  FROG  WHO  WOULDN'T  A  WOOING  Go        ....  179 

THE  STUBBORN  BOOT 190 

THE  LITTLE  DUTCHMAN 192 

A  BIRTHDAY 193 

THE  PIG  AND  THE  LARK 196 

THE  WELL-MEANING  FROG 196 

THE  FROST  KING 199 

AFTER  THE  WINTER '     .  201 

LITTLE  WHIMPY    ..." 204 

NIGHT  AND  DAY 206 

AT  THE  WINDOW 206 

OUT  OF  THE  SHELL 208 

BEES  IN  THE  MANGER 209 

BABY  NELL 209 

LEMONS  FOR  MOLLY 210 

JAMIE'S  TROUBLES 210 

JEAN  AND  KITTY   .        . 211 

DOGGIE'S  TRICKS '  .        .212 

A  SONG  FOR  BERTIE 214 

A  COMMON  MISTAKE        .        .        .  ' 214 

LITTLE  MINNIE  STOWE 215 

LETTING  THE  OLD  CAT  DIE 216 

WHAT  SHALL  WE  TAKE  TO  BOSTON  ? 219 

WASHING  DAY 220 

TROTTY  MALONE .  222 

DON'T  TRUST  CHATTER 222 

RED  AND  WHITE 223 

THE  THIRD  OF  JULY 227 


WHEN  I  AM  BIG    . 


229 


WIND  FOR  THE  TREE  TOP 229 

HERE  ARE  PLENTY  OF  SHELLS 229 

LITTLE  BELL  DREER  AND  THE  DISH-COVER 230 

MASTER  TREMBLE'S  ADVENTURE 232 

HARK  !  MY  CHILDREN 235 


Xi l  TABLE   OF  CONTENTS. 

THE  KITTEN  PICTURE 236 

SOME  ARE  STARVING         .       .     \/ 237 

THE  TERRIBLE  BALL .  238 

A  BIRTHDAY  RHYME 243 

THE  GIRL  ACROSS  THE  WAY 245 

WILLIE 247 

IF  Cows  WORE  SATIN  SLIPPERS 250 

BUMBLE  BRAMBLE     .  250* 

NOBODY  NEAR  HIM,  ALL  IN  THE  DARK 250 

On  No,  'Tis  N'T  So 251 

THE  SUN  AND  THE  STARS    ........  251 

LEARNING  TO  PRAY .        .        .  2=4 

BENNY'S  BUTTONS 256 

WHAT  WAS  THE  MOON  A-SPYING  ? 257 

A  NURSERY  RHYME  FOR  BIG  FOLKS 257 

FIRE  FLIES         . 259 

FULFILLMENT 261 

RESOLUTION       .'.... 262 

•*         How  THE  NEW  YEAR  CAME 264 

THE  WIND  AND  THE  MOON 268 

CHILDREN'S  HYMN         .  •  270 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


ELFIN    JACK,  THE   GIANT-KILLER. 

Do  not  think  the  story 
Of  the  giant-killer's  glory 
Is  known  and  cherished  only  by  yourselves, 
O,  my  dears  ; 


For  his  deeds  so  daring, 
And  his  trick  of  scaring 
All  his  foes,  are  quite  familiar  to  the  elves, 
It  appears. 


RHYMES  AND   JhYGLES. 

In  the  starlight,  tender  — 
In  the  moonlight's  splendor 
Do  they  gather  and  recount  every  deed, 

It  is  said  ; 

How  he  met  a  hornet, 
Who  was  playing  on  a  cornet, 
Out  of  tune ;  and  he  slew  him  with  a  reed,  — 
Slew  him  dead ! 

How,  growing  ever  bolder, 
With  his  reed  upon  his  shoulder, 
And  an  acorn-shield  upon  his  little  arm 

Well  equipped  — 
He  sought  a  mighty  giant, 
Who  was  known  as  "  Worm,  the  pliant, 
And  after  giving  battle,  fierce  and  warm, 
Left  him  whipped. 

How  he  saw  a  spider 
With  her  victim,  dead,  inside  her, 
Told  her,  in  a  voice  of  fury,  to  begone 

From  his  sight  ; 

.How  he  killed  her  when  she'd  risen 
To  her  cruel,  fatal  prison, 
And  nobly  freed  her  captives,  so  forlorn,  — 
Gallant  knight ! 

Ah,  but  the  elves  are  proudest, 
And  ring  his  praises  loudest, 
When  telling  of  a  snail,  grim  and  hoary, 
In  his  mail. 


ELFIN  JACK,  THE  GIANT-KILLER. 

With  those  fearful  horns  before  him, 
Jack  gallantly  upbore  him, 
And  killed  him  with  a  thrust  (to  his  glory) 
In  the  tail ! 


List  in  the  starlight,  tender, — 
List  in  the  moonlight's  splendor, — 
For  a  whirring,  like  hurrahing,  in  the  glen, 

Far  and  near. 

Tis  the  elves  who,  looking  back 
To  their  giant-killer,  Jack, 
Tell  his  story  to  each  other,  funny  men  ! 
With  a  cheer. 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


THE   MAYOR   OF   SCUTTLETON. 

THE  Mayor  of  Scuttleton  burned  his  nose 

Trying  to  warm  his  copper  toes  ; 

He  lost  his  money  and  spoiled  his  will 

By  signing  his  name  with  an  icicle-quill ; 

He  went  bare-headed,  and  held  his  breath, 

And  frightened  his  grandame  most  to  death  ; 

He  loaded  a  shovel,  and  tried  to  shoot, 

And  killed  the  calf  in  the  leg  of  his  boot ; 

He  melted  a  snow-bird,  and  formed  the  habit 

Of  dancing  jigs  with  a  sad  Welsh  rabbit ; 

He  lived  on  taffy,  and  taxed  the  town  ; 

And  read  his  newspaper  upside  down  ; 

Then  he  sighed,  and  hung  his  hat  on  a  feather, 

And  bade  the  townspeople  come  together  ; 

But  the  worst  of  it  all  was,  nobody  knew 

What  the  Mayor  of  Scuttleton  next  would  do. 


FIRE  in  the  window !   flashes  in  the  pane ! 
Fire  on  the  roof-top !    blazing  weather-vane ! 
Turn  about,  weather-vane !    put  the  fire  out ! 
The  sun's  going  down,  sir,  I  have  n't  a  doubt. 


COUSIN  JEREMY. 


HE  came  behind  me,  and  covered  my  eyes, 
"Who  is  this?"  growled  he,  so  sly, 

Why,  Cousin  Jeremy,  how  can  I  tell, 
When  my  eyes  are  shut?"  said  I. 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


LITTLE  Jenny  with  a  pail 
Tripping  to  the  spring; 

Little  Jack  astride  a  rail 
Laughed  to  hear  her  sing. 


THINKING  ALOUD. 


Little  Jenny  softly  said, 

"I'm  tired  as  I  can  be." 
But  Jack  was  sure  that  the  little  maid 

Said,  "  Carry  my  pail  for  me." 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


BYE,  baby,  night  is  come, 
And  the  sun  is  going  home 

Bye,  baby,  bye  ! 

All  the  flowers  have  shut  their  eyes 
On  the  grass  a  shadow  lies  ; 

Bye,  baby,  bye  ! 

Bye,  baby,  birds  are  sleeping  ; 
One  by  one  the  stars  are  peeping  ; 

Bye,  baby,  bye  ! 
In  the  far-off  sky  they  twinkle, 
While  the  cows  come  tinkle,  tinkle ; 

Bye,  baby,  bye  ! 

Bye,  baby,  mother  holds  thee  ; 
Loving,  tender  care  infolds  thee  ; 

Bye,  baby,  bye  ! 

Angels  in  thy  dreams  caress  thee  ; 
Through  the  darkness  guard  and  bless  thee  ; 

Bye,  baby,  bye  ! 


SNOW. 


SNOW. 

LITTLE  white  feathers,  filling  the  air  — 
Little  white  feathers !    how  came  ye  there  ? 
1  We  came  from  the  cloud-birds  sailing  so  high  ; 
They  're  shaking  their  white  wings  up  in  the  sky. 

Little  white  feathers,  how  swift  you  go ! 
Little  white  feathers,  I  love  you  so ! 
'  We  are  swift  because  we  have  work  to  do  ; 
But  hold  up  your  face,  and  we'll  kiss  you  true." 


OH,  where  are  all  the  good  little  girls, — 

Where  are  they  all  to-day  ? 
And  where  are  all  the  good  little  boys? 

Tell  me,  somebody,  pray. 
Safe  in  their  fathers'  and  mothers'  hearts 

The  girls  are  stowed  away  ; 
And  where  the  girls  are,  look  for  the  boys, — 

Or  so  I've  heard  folk  say. 


10  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

CHRISTMAS   BELLS. 

ONE  Christmas  Eve  a  little  maid 

Into  a  fire-lit  parlor  strayed  ; 

And  there  on  a  chair  lay  the  pretty  song 

Her  sister  had  sung  her,  —  Dingle-dong! 

That  rang  like  Christmas  bells. 

Dingle,  dingle,  ting,  dong ! 
So  sweet  and  clear,  so  warm  and  strong 

Dingle,  dingle,  ting,  dong! 

Merry  Christmas  bells. 

"  I  '11  play  it !  "  said  the  little  maid  ; 
"  The  blaze  is  bright,  I  'm  not  afraid  ! 
I'll  play  it  on  the  chair,  and  sing." 
So  down  she  sat,  and  dingle,  ting, 
The  ready  Christmas  bells, 
Dingle,  dingle,  ting,  dong ! 
Sounded  forth  so  sweet  and  long, — 
Dingle,  dingle,  ting,  dong ! 
Happy  Christmas  bells. 

"  It 's  darker ! "  thought  the  little  maid  ; 
"  But  never  mind,  I'm  not  afraid  ! 
.  For  Jesus  once,  in  Galilee, 
Was  just  a  little  child  like  me. 
He  loves  the  Christmas  bells." 
Dingle,  dingle,  ting,  dong ! 
O  baby  voice.!    so  sweet  and  strong ! 
Dingle,  dingle,  ting,  dong! 
Holy  Christmas  bells! 


CHRISTMAS  BELLS. 


II 


'LL  PLAY   IT!'   SAID  THE  LITTLE   MAID 


12  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


MY   LADDIE. 

OH  !   have  you  seen  my  laddie  ? 

His  heart  is  true  and  kind  ; 
His  cheeks  are  fresh  and  rosy, 

His  hair  floats  on  the  wind. 

He's  a  brave  and  lightsome  laddie, 

On  honest  toil  intent. 
Oh  !    we  had  some  words  this  morning, 

And  I  don't  know  where  he  went. 

You'll  know  if  he's  my  laddie 

By  the  twinkle  in  his  ee 
When  you  whisper  to  him  softly 

That  he  may  come  to  me. 


MARCH. 

IN  the  snowing  and  the  blowing, 

In  the  cruel  sleet, 
Little  flowers  begin 'their  growing 

Far  beneath  our  feet. 
Softly  taps  the  Spring,  and  cheerly, — 

"  Darlings,  are  you  here  ? " 
Till  they  answer,  "We  are  nearly, 

Nearly  ready,  dear." 


MARCH. 

'  Where  is  Winter,  with  his  snowing  ? 

Tell  us,  Spring,"  they  say. 
Then  she  answers,  "  He  is  going, 

Going  on  his  way. 
Poor  old  Winter  does  not  love  you  ; 

But  his  time  is  past ; 
Soon  my  birds  shall  sing  above  you,  - 

Set  you  free  at  last." 


14  RHYMES  AAT£>  JINGLES. 

GARDEN    SONGS. 


LITTLE  green  Hummer 
Was  born  in  the  summer ; 
His  coat  was  as  bright 
As  the  emerald's  light. 
Short  was  his  song, 
Though  -his  bill  it  was  long ; 
His  weight  altogether 
Not  more  than  a  feather. 
From  dipping  his  head 
In  the  sunset  red, 
And  gilding  his  side 
In  its  fiery  tide, 
He  gleamed  like  a  jewel, 
And  darted  around, 
Twixt  sunlight  and  starlight, 
Ne'er  touching  the  ground. 


GARDEN  SOXGS 

Now  over  a  blossom, 
Now  under,  now  in  it ; 
Here,  there,  and  everywhere, 
All  in  a  minute. 
Ah !   never  he  cared 
Who  wondered  and  stared, — 
His  life  was  completeness 
Of  pleasure  and  sweetness  ; 
He  revelled  in  lightness, 
In  fleetness  and  brightness, 
This  sweet  little  Hummer 
That  came  with  the  summer. 


GLUCK  !   gluck !     From  under  a  log, 

Squatting  and  leaping,  comes  Plucky  the.  Frog. 

Wide  is  his  mouth,  and  spreading  his  toes ; 

Very  elastic  and  shiny  his  clothes  ; 

Though  lofty  his  jumpings  and  brazen  his  stare, 

He  sees  not  the  Hummer  that  flits  in  the  air. 


1 6  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


'  A  LAD  of  Nansook 

A  balsam-pod  took, 
And  he  pressed  the  ends  with  a  will 

The  sudden  report 

Was  capital  sport, 
And  the  seeds  they  are  flying  still. 


OH,  I'd  search  the  world  over 
For  one  four-leaved  clover  ! 

Bend  low,  pretty  grass,  bend  low! 
Jump,  little  crickets  !   and  tumble,  you  bees  ! 
Green  little  grasshoppers,  limber  your  knees  ! 

There's  one  hidden  somewhere,  I  know. 


GARDEN  SONGS. 


SUNLIGHT  or  starlight, 

Tilly,  my  nilly, 
Find  me  a  stem 

Of  the  tiger-lily  ; 
I'll  fill  it  full 

From  the  fountain  there 
And  spirt  the  water 

Over  your  hair  ! 


1 8  RHYMES  AMD   JINGLES. 


•  GOOD  Mistress  Sundial,  what's. the  hour?" 
;  Alack  !    to  tell  you  I  have  n't  power. 
It  rains  ;    and  I  only  can  work,  you  see, 
When  the  sun  is  casting  his  light  upon  me. 
I'm  nothing  at  all  but  a  senseless  block 

Whenever  his  beautiful  rays  depart ; 
But  ask  my  neighbor,  the  Four-o'clock  ; 
She  carries  the  time  o'  day  in  her  heart." 


SOME  one  in  the  garden   murmurs  all  the  day  ; 
Some  one  in  the  garden  moans  the  night  away  ; 
Deep  in  the  pine-trees,  hidden  from  our  sight, 
He  murmurs  all  day,  and  moans  all  the  night. 


WIRE-LOCKS,  Curly-pate,  Tangle,  and  Floss, 
To  make  some  fine  curls  they  were  quite  at  a  loss, 
Till  they  found  them  a  field  of  the  bright  dandelion, 
And  made  the  green  ringlets  with  only  half  trying. 


GARDEN  SONGS. 


OLD  BUM  of  Bumbleby  bumped  his  nose, 
Trying  to  light  on  a  damask  rose  ; 
He  bumped  his  nose,  but  he  didn't  care 
As  he  pitched  about  in  the  dizzy  air. 
Whenever  he  tried  to  his  love  to  fly, 
He  would  shoot  ahead  and  pass  her  by  ; 
So  he  tumbled  at  last  on  a  larkspur  near, 
And  buzzed  his  business  into  her  ear. 


UNDER  the  willow,  out  of  the  rain, 
We'll  string  us  many  a  lilac  chain, 
Shining  and  sweet,  and  fair  to  see, 
Some  for  my  darling  and  some  for  me. 


2O 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


LITTLE  Polly,  always  clever, 

Takes  a  leaf  of  live-forever ; 

Before  you  know  it 

You  see  her  blow  it, 

A  gossamer  sack 

With  a  velvet  back. 

How  big  it  grows 

As  she  puffs  and  blows! 


GARDEN  SONGS. 

But  have  a  care, 

It  is  full  of  air. 

Ere  Polly  will  stop 

It'll  crack  with  a  pop  ; 

And  that 's  the  end  of  the  live-forever ; 

But  little  Polly  is  very  clever. 


21 


"LIFT   UP   YOUR   FACE,  LITTLE  DAISY." 


LIFT  up  your  face,  little  daisy,  pray ; 
I  can't  stand  here  in  the  grass  all  day. 
Jamie  sent  me,  and  Jamie  is  sick. 
He  says  you  are  far  too  sweet  to  pick, 
But  he  gave  me  something  to  give  to  you; 
So  hold  up  your  cheek,  little  daisy,  do. 


22  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


I  KNOW  where  there's  a  beautiful  shoe, 

Tiny  and  sweet,  and  ready  for  you  ; 

It  hides  away  in  the  balsam-flower, 

But  I'll  find  you  a  pair  in  less  than  an  hour. 

"  Thank  you,  my  laddie ;   now  this  I  '11  do, 
I'll  pluck  a  heart-flower  just  for  you; 


The  hearts  hang  close  on  a  bending  spray, 
And  every  heart  hides  a  lyre  away. 

How  shall  you  find  it  ?     I  '11  tell  you  true  : 
You  gently  sunder  the  heart  in  two, 
And  under  the  color,  as  white  as  milk, 
You'll  find  the  lyre  with  its  strings  of  silk. 


GARDEN  SONGS. 


HOBBLEDY   HOPS. 


HOBBLEDY    HOPS 

He  made  some  tops 

Out  of  the  morning-glory; 

He  used  the  seed, — 

He  did  indeed  ; 
And  that's  the  end  of  my  story. 


24  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


BRIGHT  little  buttercup,  now  you  will  show 
Whether  my  darling  likes  butter  or  no. 
Buttercup,  buttercup,  will  you  begin? 
Shine  me  an  answer  under  her  chin. 


GARDEN  SONGS. 


THE   ANTS. 

GOOD  Mistress  Ant,  I  pray,  what  is  the  matter  ? 

Why  this  commotion  without  any  clatter  ? 

Alack  !   alack  !   we  're  ruined,  you  see  ; 

I  've  lost  my  children,  and  they  Ve  lost  me ! 

Our  houses  have  fallen,  our  city  is  gone, 

And  thousands  are  murdered  or  running  forlorn. 

Ah  me !  who  would  think  that  such  power  to  destroy 

Could  lurk  in  the  heel  of  a  bare-footed  boy/" 


26  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


BURS. 

DEAR  me! 

What  shall  it  be? 
Such  sticky  affairs 

Did  ever  you  see? 
Let's  make  a  basket, 

Let's  make  a  mat, 
Let's  make  a  tea-board, 

Let 's  make  a  hat ; 
Let's  make  a  cottage, 

Windows  and  doors  ; 
You  do  the  roof, 

And  I'll  do  the  floors. 
Let's  make  a  pancake, — 

Stick  'em  together ; 
See  how  they  fasten 

Close  to  each  other ! 
Tied  to  one's  heel 

They  would  answer  for  spurs  ; 
Ah,  how  we  love  'em, 

These  comical  burs! 


GARDEN  SONGS. 


HOLLYHOCK,  hollyhock,  bend  for  me 
I  want  a  cheese  for  my  dolly's  tea. 
I'll  put  it  soon  on  an  acorn  plate, 
And  dolly  and  I  shall  feast  in  state. 


28  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


WHEN  the  sun  is  sinking  low  in  the  skies, 
The  evening  primrqse  opens  her  eyes. 

"  Come  back,  dear  Sun,"  she  seems  to  say ; 

"  I  Ve  been  dreaming  of  you  the  live-long  day. 


Ho,  Dandelion !   my  lightsome  fellow ! 
What's  become  of  all  your  yellow? 
'My  bonnie  yellow  it  wouldn't  stay, 
It.  turned  about  and  it  went  away, 
Till  nothing  at  all  was  left  of  me 
But  the  misty,  feathery  ball  you  see  ; 
Yet  pluck  me  off,  and  blow  me  well, 
The  time  o'  day  I'll  surely  tell." 

Whiff !    whiff !     "  Blow  again,  — 
Blow  with  all  your  might  and  main." 
Whiff!    whiff!     That  is  four. 
Now  I've  but  two  feathers  more. 
Whiff!     How  tight  the  last  one  sticks! 
Whiff!     It's  gone;   and  that  makes  six. 
The  sun  is  getting  low,  I  see, 
And  we  must  hurry  home  to  tea. 


SONG   OF  SUMMER. 


29 


SONG   OF    SUMMER. 

UP  in  the  tree  top,  down  in  the  ground, 
High  in  the  blue  sky,  far,  all  around, — 
Near  by  and  everywhere  creatures  are  living, 
God  in  his  bounty  something  is  giving. 

Up  in  the  tree  top,  down  in  the  ground, 
High  in  the  blue  sky,  far,  all  around,— 
Near  by  and  everywhere  creatures  are 

ing, 
Labor  is  surely  the  price  of  their  thriving. 

Up  in  the  tree  top,  down  in  the  ground, 
High  in  the  blue  sky,  far,  all  around,— 
Near  by  and    everywhere,  singing   and   hum- 
ming, 
Busily,  joyfully,  Summer  is  coming! 


30  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


LITTLE   BEGINNINGS. 

A  LITTLE  girl  on  a  little  bench 

By  a  little  window  stood, 
And  a  little  trouble  was  in  her  heart  — 

"  Ah  !  if  I  were  but  good  ! " 

"Not  very,  very  good,"  she  thought, 

"  Like  dear  cousin  Jane  who  died  ; 
But  only  patient,  true  and  kind, 
.  And  free  from  wicked  pride. 

"  I  '11  pray  for  that  at  first,"  she  said, 

"  Our  Father  will  help  pie  try. 
And  then,  perhaps,  He  will  show  the  way, 
To  be  very  good  by  and  by." 

Then  upward  rose  the  little  prayer  — 

So  earnestly  it  went, 
That  the  little  heart  of  the  little  maid 

Was  filled  with  a  sweet  content. 

And  standing  there  on  the  little  bench, 

She  looked  up  into  the  sky  : 
"I'll  try  to  be  good  right  off,"  she  said, 
"And  better  yet,  by  and  by." 


MOONEY  AND  BLACKY. 


To  Mooney  and  her  baby, 

Shut  in  the  corner  lot, 
I  '11  carry  a  cooling  pailful, 

For  the  day  is  close  and  hot. 

But  Blacky  and  Snow  can  help  themselves 

At  the  brook  as  well  as  not. 


32  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  Moon  came  late  to  a  lonesome  bog, 
And  there  sat  Goggleky  Gluck,  the  frog. 
My  stars  ! "  she  cried,  and  veiled  her  face, 
What  very  grand  people  they  have  in  this  place  ! ' 


JOHNNY   THE   STOUT. 

"  Ho,  for  a  frolic  ! " 

Said  Johnny  the  stout  ; 

"There's  coasting  and  sledding,. 
I'm  going  out  !  " 

Scarcely  had  Johnny 
Plunged  in  the  snow, 

When  there  came  a  complaint 
Up  from  his  toe  :  — 


JOHXXY  THE  STOUT.  33 

"We're  cold,"  said  the  toe, 

"  I  and  the  rest ; 
There  are  ten  of  us  freezing 
Standing  abreast." 

Then  up  spoke  an  ear: 

"My!  but  it's  labor 
Playing  in  winter.     Eh, 

Opposite  neighbor  ? " 

"Pooh!"  said  his  nose, 

Angry  and  red  ; 
"Who  wants  to  tingle? 

Go  home  to  bed  ! " 

Eight  little  fingers, 

Four  to  a  thumb, 
All  cried  together, 

"Johnny,  we're  numb!" 

But  Johnny  the  stout 

Would  n't  listen  a  minute ; 
Never  a  snow-bank 

But  Johnny  was  in  it. 

Tumbling  and  jumping, 

Shouting  with  glee, 
Wading  the  snow-drifts 

Up  to  his  knee. 

Soon  he  forgot  them, 
Fingers  and  toes, — 
3 


34  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

Never  once  thought  of 
The  ear  and  the  nose. 

Ah,  what  a  frolic! 

All  in  a  glow, 
Johnny  grew  warmer 

Out  in  the  snow. 

Often  his  breathing 

Came  with  a  joke : 

"  Blaze  away,  Johnny  ! 

I'll  do  the  smoke." 

"And  I'll  do  the  fire," 
Said  Johnny  the  bold ; 

"Fun  is  the  fuel 

For  driving  off  cold." 


A  FARMER  in  Bungleton  had  a  colt 

That  couldn't  be  taught  to  moo; 
And  he  kept  his  cow  under  lock  and  bolt 

Till  the  smith  could  make  her  a  shoe. 
His  ducks  wouldn't  gobble,  his  geese  wouldn't  quack, 

His  cat  couldn't  bark  at  all. 
I'm  clean  discouraged!"  he  cried;  "alack! 

I'll  give  up  my  farm  in  the  fall." 


THE  DRINKING-PAN. 
THE   DRINKING-PAN. 


35 


KIPPY  !    Kippy  !   what  a  pleasure ! 
Kippy  !    Kippy  !    such  a  treasure  ! 
Here's  a  lake  of  water  clear; 
Little  Polly  put  it  here. 

See,  the  water  has  a  sky 
Like  the  one  that  shines  so  high 
All  the  other  birds  are  there, 
Playing  in  the  sunny  air. 

Shall  we  ever  sing  and  play 
In  the  sky  the  livelong  day  ? 
Oh,  no,  no  !    such  silly  tricks 
Would  not  do  for  downy  chicks. 


36  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THERE  was  a  shrewd  lad  of  Cooloo 

Who  thought  baby's  tooth  wasn't  through. 

Says  he,  "Though  I  doubt, 

I'se  a-gwine  to  find  out." 
And  he  did  —  that  shrewd  lad  of  Cooloo. 


THERE  was  a  fine  youth  of  Pike's  Peak 
Who  raised  a  moustache  in  a  week. 
When  they  called  it  "  like  down," 
Ah,  how  he  would  frown  !  — 
This  hairy  young  man  of  Pike's  Pe£k. 


STOCKING  SONG.  37 


STOCKING  SONG  ON   CHRISTMAS   EVE. 

WELCOME,  Christmas !   heel  and  toe, 
Here  we  wait  thee  in  a  row. 
Come,  good  Santa  Claus,  we  beg, — 
Fill  us  tightly,  foot  and  leg. 

Fill  us  quickly  ere  you  go, — 
Fill  us  till  we  overflow. 
That's  the  way!   and  leave  us  iriore 
Heaped  in  piles  upon  the  floor. 

Little  feet  that  ran  all  day 
Twitch  in  dreams  of  merry  play ; 
Little  feet  that  jumped  at  will 
Lie  all  pink,  and  warm,  and  still. 

See  us,  how  we  lightly  swing ; 
Hear  us,  how  we  try  to  sing. 
Welcome,  Christmas  !   heel  and  toe, 
Come  and  fill  us  ere  you  go. 

Here  we  hang  till  some  one  nimbly 
Jumps  with  treasure  down  the  chimney. 
Bless  us!   how  he'll  tickle  us! 
Funny  old  St.  Nicholas! 


38  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


IN   TRUST. 

IT'S  coming,  boys, 
It's  almost  here  ; 

It's  coming,  girls, 

The  grand  New  Year! 

A  year  to  be  glad  in, 

Not  to  be  bad  in ; 

A  year  to  live  in, 

To  gain  and  give  in  ; 

A  year  for  trying, 

And  not  for  sighing ; 

A  year  for  striving 

And  hearty  thriving; 

A  bright  new  year. 

Oh!   hold  it  dear; 

For  God  who  sendeth 

He  only  lendeth. 


A   SONG   OF  ST.  NICHOLAS.  39 


A   SONG   OF   SAINT  NICHOLAS. 

COME,  ho !    sing,  ho !   ye  chimney  sprites, 

Come  and  a  riddle  unravel : 
Tell  us  true,  by  the  dancing  lights, 

Where  does  Saint  Nicholas  travel? 

In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
Hither,  thither,  doth  he  hie, — 
North  and  south  and  east  and  west; 
Not  a  moment  doth  he  rest. 
Speeding  here  and  speeding  there, 
In  an  instant  everywhere. 
Valleys,  hills,  and  mountain  passes, 
Sunny  fields  and  drear  morasses, 
Silent  plains  and  busy  towns, 
Yankee  meadows,  English  downs, — 
Whether  crowded,  lone  or  wild, 
So  it  holds  one  little  child,  — 
Every  spot,  he  knows  by  heart ; 
What  if  half  the  world  apart  ? 
In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
Hither,  thither,  doth  he  hie. 

Prythee,  this  riddle  unravel: 
How  does  Saint  Nicholas  travel? 

How  does  he  travel  ?     This  is  the  way : 
Sun  or  storm  or  blue  or  gray, 


40  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

Soon  as  he  gathers  his  stock  of  toys, 
Laughing  and  nodding,  but  never  a  noise, 
Laughing  and  nodding,  shaking  his  sides, 
This  is  the  way  Saint  Nicholas  rides: 
Not  over  mountains,  not  over  streams, 
But  gliding  swift  through  the  children's  dreams. 
Soon  as  their  eyelids  in  slumber  close, 
Hither  and  thither  Saint  Nicholas  goes. 

But  how  do  the  little  ones  go  to  him  f 
Sing,  ho !     When  the  winter  waxeth  dim, 
And,  Christmas  over,  the  children  say, 

"  Good  Saint  Nick !    he  has  gone  away," 
Oho !    he  strokes  his  jolly  old  nose, 
And  lays  him  down  for  a  quiet  doze. 

"Ha,  ha!   the  snow  is  a  capital  bed!" 
And  he  pulls  his  nightcap  over  his  head. 
Asleep  and  resting,  O  good  Saint  Nick ! 
Now  do  the  children  play  him  a  trick ; 
For,  bright  and  rosy  and  lithe  of  limb, 
They  travel  quick  in  his  dreams,  to  him. 
From  every  nook  and  possible  place 
There  peeps  a  beautiful  baby-face. 
With  joyous  murmur  and  laughing  hum, 

.From  every  quarter  the  children  come. 
Rosy,  tender,  and  snow-flake  soft, 
They  throng  about  him  or  float  aloft ; 
Closer  they  nestle,  a  hundred  thick, 
And  whisper,  "We  thank  you,  dear  Saint  Nick 
We've  come  to  tell  you  we  love  you,  dear." 
And  Nicholas  laughs  in  his  sleep  to  hear. 


FLOWERS.  41 

Oho  !  sing,  ho  !  and  now  you  know  : 

As  soon  as  the  Christmas  lights  are  dim, 

And  the  saint  no  more  his  rounds  doth  go, 
The  children  flock,  in  his  dreams,  to  him. 


FLOWERS. 

MY  little  one  came,  and  brought  me  a  flower, 

Never  a  sweeter  one  grew ; 
But  it  faded  and  faded  in  one  short  hour, 

And  lost  all  its  pretty  blue. 

My  little  one  stayed  in  the  room  and  played  ; 

And  so  my  flower  bloomed  bright, — 
My  beautiful  blossom  that  did  not  fade, 

But  slept  in  my  arms  all  night. 


42 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


"NOW,   DOLLY,   DEAR,    I'M   GOING  AWAY." 


THE  LITTLE  MOTHER.  43 


THE   LITTLE   MOTHER. 

Now,  Dolly,  dear,  I'm  going  away, 

And  want  you  to  be  good  all  day. 

Don't  lose  your  shoes  nor  soil  your  dress, 

Nor  get  your  hair  all  in  a  mess ; 

But  lie  quite  still,  and  up  I'll  come 

To  kiss  you,  soon  as  I  get  home. 

I'd  take  you,  dear,  but  then,  you  know, 

It's  wax  Sabina's  turn  to  go. 

She's  sick,  I'm  'fraid.     Her  eyes  don't  work 

They  open  worse,  the  more  I  jerk  ; 

She  used  to  be  so  straight  and  stout, 

But  now  her  sawdust's  running  out. 

Her  kid  is  out  of  order,  dear. 

My  papa  says  she's  out  of  gear. 

That's  dreadful,  isn't  it?     But  then 

The  air  may  make  her  well  again. 

So,  Dolly,  won't  you  stay  alone, 

And  be  real  good  while  I  am  gone  ? 

Good-by,  my  precious!     Yes,  I'll  come 

And  kiss  you,  soon  as  I  get  home. 


44  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


AMONG   THE  ANIMALS. 

ONE  rainy  morning, 

Just  for  a  lark, 
I  jumped  and  stamped 

On  my  new  Noah's  Ark : 
I  crushed  an  elephant, 

Smashed  a  gnu, 
And  snapped  a  camel 

Clean  in  two  ; 
I  finished  the  wolf 

Without  half  tryin', 
And  wild  hyena, 

And  roaring  lion  ; 
I  knocked  down  Ham, 

And  Japhet,  too, 
And  cracked  the  legs 

Of  the  kangaroo  ; 
I  finished,  beside, 

Two  pigs  and  a  donkey, 
A  polar  bear, 

Opossum,  and  monkey ; 
Also  the  lions, 

Tigers,  and  cats, 
And  dromedaries, 

And  tiny  rats  — 
There  wasn't  a  thing 

That  didn't  feel, 
Sooner  or  later, 

The  weight  o'  my  heel  ; 


OLD  DOCTOR  PAFF. 

I  felt  as  grand 

As  grand  could  be  — 
But  oh  the  whipping 

My  mammy  gave  me! 


45 


OLD  Doctor  Paff,  he  used  to  laugh 
Whenever  he  saw  the  brindle  calf. 
But  Doctor  Paff  thought  best  to  bow 
When  at  last  he  met  the  brindle  cow. 


46  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE   LITTLE   GIRL   WHO   WOULDN'T   EAT 
CRUSTS. 


THE  awfulest  times  that  ever  could  be 
Th'ey  had  with  a  bad  little  girl  of  Dundee, 

Who  never  would  finish  her  crust. 
In  vain  they  besought  her, 
And  patiently  taught  her, 

And  told  her  she  must. 

r- 

Her  grandma  would  coax, 
And  so  would  the  folks, 
And  tell  her  the  sinning 
Of  such  a  beginning. 
But  no,  she  would  n't, 
She  could  n't,  she  should  n't, 


POOR  LITTLE   TODDLEKINS.  47 

She'd  have  them  to  know  — 
So  they  might  as  well  go. 

Now  what  do  you  think  soon  came  to  pass  ? 

This  little  girl  of  Dundee,  alas  ! 

Who  would  n't  take  crusts  in  the  regular  way, 

Sat  down  to  a  feast  one  summer's  day  ; 

And  what  did  the  people  that  little  girl  give, 

But  a  dish  of  bread  pudding  —  as  sure  as  I  live! 


POOR  little  Toddlekins, 
All  full  o'  sketer-bites  — 
Bodder  him  awful, 
Baby  can't  sleep  o'  nights. 
Buzzing  all  over  him, 
Singing  and  tickling, 
In  and  out,  round  about, 
Nipping  and  prickling. 
Poor  little  Toddlekins, 
All  full  o'  sketer-bites  — 
Bodder  him  awful, 
Can't  even  sleep  o'  nights! 


48 


RHYMES  AND   JIXGLES. 


SONG   OF   THE  DUCKS.  49 


SONG   OF   THE   DUCKS. 

ONE  little  black  duck,  one  little  gray, 

Six  little  white  ducks,  running  out  to  play  ; 

One  white  lady-duck,  motherly  and  trim, 

Eight  little  baby  ducks,  bound  for  a  swim  ! 

One  little  white  duck,  holding  up  its  wings, 

One  little  bobbing  duck,  making  water-rings, 

One  little  black  duck,  turning  round  its  head, 

One  big  black  duck  —  guess  he's  gone  to  bed. 

One  little  white  duck,  running  from  the  water, 

One  very  fat  duck  —  pretty  little  daughter! 

One  very  brave  duck,  swimming  off  alone, 

One  little  white  duck,  standing  on  a  stone. 

One  little  white  duck,  walking  by  its  mother; 

Look  among  the  water-reeds,  maybe  there's  another. 

Not  another  anywhere  ?  surely  you  are  blind. 
Push  away  the  grass,  dear ;  ducks  are  hard  to  find. 
Bright  little  brown  eyes  !  o'er  the  picture  linger  ; 
Point  me  all  the  ducks  out,  chubby  little  finger  ! 
Make  the  picture  musical,  merry  little  shout ! 
Now,  where's  that  other  duck  ?     What  is  he  about  ? 
7  think  the  other  duck's  the  nicest  duck  of  all ; 
He  hasn't  any  feathers,  and  his  mouth  is  sweet  and  small ; 
He  runs  with  a  light  step,  and  jumps  upon  my  knee, 
And  though  he  cannot  swim,  he  is  very  dear  to  me. 

One  white  lady-duck,  motherly  and  trim  ; 
Eight  little  baby-ducks,  bound  for  a  swim  ; 
One  lazy  black  duck,  taking  quite  a  nap  ; 
One  little  precious  duck,  here  on  mamma's  lap! 

4 


50  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THAT'S   WHAT   WE'D   DO. 

IF  you  were  an  owl, 
And  I  were  an  owl, 

And  this  were  a  tree, 
And  the  moon  came  out, 

I  know  what  we'd  do. 

We  would  stand,  we  two, 

On  a  bough  of  the  tree  ; 

You  'd  wink  at  me, 

And  I  'd  wink  at  you  ; 

That's  what  we'd  do, 
Beyond  a  doubt. 

I  'd  give  you  a  rose 
For  your  lovely  nose, 
And  you'd  look  at  me 

Without  turning  about. 
I  know  what  we  'd  do 
(That  is,  I  and  you)  ; 
Why,  you  'd  sing  to  me, 
And  I  'd  sing  to  you  ; 
That 's  what  we  'd  do, 

When  the  moon  came  out. 


THA  T  'S   WHA  T  WE  '£>  DO. 


I  'D   GIVE  YOU    A   ROSE. 


52  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

HOLLOA  ! 

What 's  the  matter  ? 
Why  this  bustle, 

Noise  and  clatter? 
Mercy  on  us  ! 

Don't  you  know 
Little  Pipkin's 

Stubbed  his  toe ! 

What's  that? 

Some  one  knocks. 
How  the  wind 

Shakes  the  locks  ! 
Run,  quick ! 

How  absurd  — 
Only  a  beggar, 

Upon  my  word  ! 


AN   APRIL  MAIDEN. 

WERE  you  ever  heavy-hearted,  little  May  ? 

She  tossed  her  pretty  head, 

As  right  merrily  she  said, 
"  Heavy  hearted  ?     No,  not  I ; 

Yet  a  little  makes  me  cry, 

And  a  little  less  than  half 

Makes  me  laugh  — 
My  mother  often  calls  me  '  April  Day.'  " 


AN  APRIL  MAIDEN.  53 

Were  you  ever  very  happy,  little  May  ? 

Again  she  shook  her  head. 
"I  do  not  know,"  she  said. 
"  Very  happy  ?     Who  is  so  ? 
Not  a  single  soul,  you  know; 
Mother  often  tells  me  this, 
With  a  kiss  ; 
Our  life,  she  says,  is  like  an  April  day." 

Were  you  ever  very  naughty,  little  May? 

She  flushed  a  rosy  red, 

As,  right  saucily,  she  said, 
"Very  naughty?     Let  me  see: 

Why,  I  have  been  bad  —  for  me ; 

I  have  trod  on,  Pussy's  toes, 

And  I  've  torn  my  Sunday  clo'es  ; 

And,  oh!  —  now,  don't  you  tell!  — 

I  mean  to  —  well, 
Fool  every  one  I  know  on  April-day." 


THERE'S  a  fragrance  in  the  blossom, 
But  the  fruit  is  better  still ; 

And  the  river  rushes  farther 
Than  ever  could  the  rill. 


54 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


WAKE   UP,  BIRDIE! 

BIRDIE  with  the  folded  wing, 
Shall  we  never  hear  you  sing  ? 
Sleepy  birdie,  wake  up  quick ! 
Pretty  birdie,  are  you  sick? 
Birdie,  birdie !  are  you  dead  ? 
Birdie,  birdie !  lift  your  head  ! 
Lift  your  head,  and  show  your  beak. 
Naughty  birdie !  won't  you  speak  ? 
Here  is  water  for  your  cup ; 
Here  is  sugar  —  eat  it  up-. 
Here  is  sunshine  warm  and  bright  — 
Now  he  sings  with  all  his  might ! 


THE   DIFFERENCE. 


55 


THE   DIFFERENCE. 


THE   SOUR   OLD   LADY. 


THERE  was  an  old  lady  all  dressed  in  silk, 
Who  lived  upon  lemons  and  buttermilk  ; 
And,  thinking  this  world  was  a  sour  old  place, 
She  carried  its  acid  all  over  her  face  ; 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


THE  OLD   LADY   WHO   LIVED   ON    MATCHES. 


Another  old  lady,  all  dressed  in  patches, 
Lived  upon  nothing  but  Lucifer  matches  ; 
So  the  world,  it  made  her  strangle  and  cough, 
And  sure  as  you  rubbed  her  you  set  her  off. 

Another  old  lady,  all  sunny  and  neat, 
Who  lived  upon  sugar,  and  every  thing  sweet ; 
Declared,  when  she  heard  of  their  troubles,  she  "  never ! ' 
For  the  world  was  so  nice  she  could  live  on  forever. 


THE   MORAL. 


57 


THE  SUNNY  OLD   LADY. 


Now,  children  take  your  choice 

Of  the  food  your  hearts  shall  eat ; 
There  are  sourish  thoughts,  and  brimstone  thoughts, 

And  thoughts  all  good  and  sweet  ; 

And  whatever  the  heart  feeds  on, 

Dear  children,  trust  to  me, 
Is  precisely  what  this  queer  old  world 

Will  seem  to  you  to  be. 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


BILLY   BOY. 


POOR  Billy  boy  was  music  mad, 

Oh  music  mad  was  he  ; 
And  yet  he  was  as  blithe  a  lad 
As  any  lad  could  be  — 
With  a  hi-de-diddle, 
Bow  and  fiddle, 
Rig-a-my,  ho  !  sang  he  — 


BILLY  BOY.  59 

For  Billy  was  as  blithe  a  lad 
As  any  lad  could  be. 

"  Nobody  knows  the  joy  I  know, 

Or  sees  the  sights  I  see, 
So  play  me  high,  or  play  me  low, 

My  fiddle's  enough  for  me. 
It  takes  me  here,  it  takes  me  there  — 

So  play  me  low  or  high  — 
It  finds  me,  binds  me  anywhere, 
And  lifts  me  to  the  sky." 
With  a  hi-de-diddle, 
Bow  and  fiddle, 
Rig-a-my,  ho  !  sang  he  — 
For  Billy  was  as  blithe  a  lad 
As  any  lad  could  be. 


6o 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


SHEPHERD  JOHN. 


OH  !  Shepherd  John  is  good  and  kind, 
Oh  !  Shepherd  John  is  brave  ; 

He  loves  the  weakest  of  his  flock, 
His  arm  is  quick  to  save. 

But  Shepherd  John  to  little  John 
Says  :  "  Learn,  my  laddie,  learn  ! 

In  grassy  nooks  still  read  your  books, 
And  aye  for  knowledge  burn. 


SHEPHERD  JOHN. 

Read  while  you  tend  the  grazing  flock 

Had  I  but  loved  my  book, 
I'd  not  be  still  in  shepherd's  frock, 

Nor  bearing  shepherd's  crook. 

The  world  is  wide,  the  world  is  fair, 
There 's  muckle  work  to  do. 

I'll  rest  content  a  shepherd  still, 
But  grander  fields  for  you  !  " 


61 


62 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


MY   WEEK. 


ON  Monday  I  wash  my  dollies'  clothes, 
On  Tuesday  smoothly  press  'em  ; 

On  Wednesday  mend  their  little  hose, 
On  Thursday  neatly  dress  'em. 


MY  WEEK. 


On  Friday  I  play  they're  taken  ill, 
On  Saturday  something  or  other; 


But  when  Sunday  comes,  I  say,  "Lie  still 
I'm  going  to  church  with  mother." 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 
BABY   IN   DREAMLAND. 


BABY'S  dreams  are  very  bright, 
Though  they  come  at  dead  of  night, 

When  the  house  is  still ; 
For  a  moonbeam  comes  to  take  her 
Where  the  sweetest  sounds  shall  wake  her, 

Where  she'll  play  at  will. 

In  the  dreamland,  far  away, 
There  do  sleeping  babies  play, 

There  they  laugh  and  walk. 
All  the  day  their  speech  is  gone-- 
Not  a  foot  to  stand  upon  — 

There  they  leap  and  talk. 

There  the  pretty  candle-blaze, 
When  they  clutch  it,  brightly  stays  ; 


BABY  IN  DREAMLAND.  65 

There  the  stars  so  grand 
Come  to  meet  the  outstretched  arm, 
Leap  all  sparkling  to  the  palm 

Of  the  little  hand. 

But  in  all  that  wondrous  place, 
Still  is  smiling,  mother's  face  ; 

Mother's  touch  is  there; 
And  like  music  sweet  and  low, 
Though  the  baby  does  not  know, 

Breathes  the  mother's  prayer. 

So  the  baby  laughs  and  plays 
Through  the  happy  dreamland  ways 

(Close  to  heaven,  maybe), 
Till  the  merry  sun-beams  take  her 
To  her  bed,  and  gently  wake  her. 

—  Now,  come  see  to  Baby ! 


66  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THANKSGIVING. 

ALL  their  heads  were  bowed  in  prayer 
Father's,  mother's,  boys'  and  girls', 

Grandma's,  grandpa's  —  only  Nelly, 
Little  Nelly,  shook  her  curls. 

Little  Nelly  shook  her  curls, 

Smiling,  gazing  all  intent, 
Stared  as  ever  at  the  sight  — 

Wondered  what  on  earth  it  meant. 

Busy  firelight,  flashing  bright, 
Shot  its  frisky  flamelets  out ; 

While  the  ship  above  the  clock 
Gayly  tossed  and  pitched  about. 

Roasted  turkey,  on  his  back, 
And  the  chickens,  side  by  side, 

.Had  a  perky,  jaunty  air 
Full  of  jollity  and  pride  ; 

Tempting  pies  and  puddings  near, 
Held  their  faces  to  the  light; 

While  canary  in  his  cage, 

Piped  and  sang  with  all  his  might. 

Flowery  carpet  under  foot, 
Hanging  basket  all  a-bloom, 


THANKSGIVING.  67 

Pearly,  picture-covered  wall  — 
Drew  the  sunlight  to  the  room. 

Little  Nelly  felt  it  all, 

Felt  how  blithe  it  was  and  fair ; 
Yet  the  moment  seemed  so  long 

That  the  heads  were  bowed  in  prayer. 

If  they  only  knew,  she  thought, 

How  the  room  was  full  of  play, 
They  would  never  hide  their  faces 

In  that  sober,  solemn  way. 

Laughing,  staring,  puzzled  Nell ! 

How  could  such  a  baby  know 
'Twas  the  cheery,  sunny  gladness 

That  had  bowed  their  heads  so  low ; 

That  the  blithesome,  happy  home-life, 

Birdie  singing  on  the  wall, 
And  the  laughing  little  mischief, 

Made  them  thank  the  God  of  all  ? 


68  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


LULU'S   BIRTHDAY. 

LULU'S  Birthday—  very  queer  ! 

Comes  to  her  but'  once  a  year  ; 
Comes  when  Winter  snows  are  falling, 
Comes  when  Ocean  winds  are  squalling, 
Comes  when  Nature's  quite  appalling, — 

Every  thing  so  cold  and  drear. 

Lulu's   Birthday  -;-  stranger  still  ! 

Has  to  climb  to  her  up  hill ; 
For  the  maiden  is  so  knowing, 
That  she  spends  her  time  in  growing, 
Every  year  some  change  is  showing, — 

Growing  head,  and,  heart,  and  will. 

Lulu's  Birthday  —  it  is  clear  — 

Likes  to  meet  her  every  year  ; 
Likes  to  follow  Lulu's  scorning. 
So,  with  fairest  flowers  adorning 

All  the  home,  we  give  it  cheer. 
And  with  prayer  and  watchful  loving, 
Though  the  little  maid  keep  moving, 

And  the  time  be  cold  and  drear, 
Sure  as  comes  the  Birthday  morning, 

We  shall  try  to  have  her  here. 


THE  STAR  FAMILY.  69 


THE  Moon  came  late  to  the  twinkling  sky, 
To  see  what  the  stars  were  about : 

;Fair  Night,"  quoth  she,  "are  the  family  in? 
"Oh  !  no,  they  are,  every  one,  out." 


70  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


As  I  was  a-going  to  market, 

I  met  a  man  with  a  goose. 
Says  he :  "  Big  boots  with  a  boy ! 

I  guess  you  came  from  Toulouse." 
Says  I. :  "  Little  goose  with  a  man  ! 

How  did  you  leave  your  mother  ? 
I  guess  you  just  came  from  home, 

For  I  see  you've  brought  your  brother. 


TWO   LITTLE   FROGGIES. 


Two  little  froggies  they  sighed  to  one  another 
"  Our  puddle  is  all  liquor  and  no  meat. 


TWO  LITTLE  FROGGIES.. 


Let   us  sit   upon   the  bank,  where   the   lovely  mud   is 

shining, 
And  maybe  we  '11  see  something  good  to  eat." 

Forty  little  ants  said  gayly  to  their  mother : 
"  O  mother !  we  are  going  to  the  bogs ; " 

But    the    forty   little    ants    never   dreamed    they   were 

going 
Just  to  make  a  dainty  dinner  for  the  frogs. 


AND   JINGLES. 


ONE  AND   ONE. 

wo  little  girls  are  better  than  one 
Two  little  boys  can  double  the  fun, 
Two  little  birds  can  build  a  fine 

nest, 
Two  little  arms   can  love  mother 

best. 
Two   little    ponies    must  go    to    a 

span  ; 
Two   little   pockets  has   my  little 

man  ; 

Two  little  eyes  to  open  and  close, 
Two  little  ears  and  one  little  nose, 
Two  little  elbows,  dimpled  and 

sweet, 

Two  little  shoes  on  two  little  feet, 
Two  little  lips  and  one  little  chin, 
Two  little  cheeks  with  a  rose  shut 

in  ; 
Two  little   shoulders,  chubby  and 

strong, 

Two  little  legs  running  all  day  long. 
Two  little  prayers  does  my  darling  say, 
Twice  does  he  kneel  by  my  side  each  day,- — 
Two  little  folded  hands,  soft  and  brown, 
Two  little  eyelids  cast  meekly  down,  — 
And  two  little  angels  guard  him  in  bed, 
"One  at  the  foot,  and  one  at  the  head." 


BIRDIES  AND  BABIES. 


73 


BIRDIES  with  broken  wings, 
Hide  from  each  other ; 

But  babies  in  trouble, 

Can  run  home  to  mother. 


74  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


WILLIE'S   LODGER. 

Two  little  boys,  named  Willie, 

Live  in  the  house  with  me. 
One  is  as  good  a  darling 

As  ever  I  wish  to  see  ; 
His  eyes  are  glad,  his  smile  is  sweet, 
His  voice  is  kind,  his  dress  is  neat, 

And  he  is  the  boy  for  me. 

This  Willie  says,  "  Good  morning  ! " 

Happy  as  any  bird  ; 
A  merrier  laugh,  a  lighter  step, 

No  mortal  ever  heard. 

"  Thank  you,"  he  says,  and  "  If  you  please  ? " 
He  will -not  pout,  he  will  not  tease  — 

Oh !  he  is  the  boy  for  me ! 

The  other  Willie,  sad  to  say, 

Is  very,  very  bad  ; 
I  think  he  is  as  cross  a  child 

As  ever  a  mother  had. 

"  Go  'way  !  "  he  shrieks.    He  squalls  and  cries, 
The  angry  tears  oft  fill  his  eyes  — 

He  is  not  the  boy  for  me. 

He  lingers  round  my  Willie, 

And  whispers  evil  things  — 
Oh!  how  we  dread  him  !  for  we  know 

The  sin  and  grief  he  brings  ! 


WILLIE'S  LODGER.  75 

Who  keeps  him,  then  ?   Why,  Willie's  self; 
He  keeps  this  wicked  Willie-elf 
Who  is  not  the  boy  for  me. 

If  I  were  you,  my  Willie, 

I  'd  make  him  stay  away,  — 
This  boy  who  grieves  your  mother 

And  spoils  your  brightest  day,  — 
For  he  lives  in  you  where  he  does  n't  belong ; 
So  oust  him,  Willie !  Send  him  along ! 
il Clear  out!"  I'd  say,  "old  Fume  and  Fret! 
This  heart  of  mine  is  not  to  let, — 

You're  not  the  boy  for  me." 


76  RHYMES  AND  JLVGLES. 


FOUR  little  piggies,  bound  for  a  frolic, 

Ate  green  apples  till  one  got  the  colic. 

One  was  so  greedy  he  stuffed  his  maw  ; 

One  munched  so  hard  that  he  cracked  his  jaw. 

One  had  the  toothache  and  could  n't  chew  a  bit, 

So  he  swallowed  them  whole  and  died  in  a  fit. 


SPINNING  your  top, 

Don't  let  it  flop,  boys  ; 


ROLLING    YOUR  HOOP. 


77 


Flying  your  kite, 

Pull  with  your  might,  boys. 
Rolling  your  hoop, 

Never  you  stoop,  boys  ; 
Either  stand  still, 

Or  play  with  a  will. 


78  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


GOOD-MORNING. 

GOOD  MORNING,  mamma!     Good-morning, 

bright  sun ! 

Good-morning,  papa !     The  day  is  begun. 
Good-morning  to  every  one,  pussy  as  well : 
Does  he  sleep  like  the  rest,  till  he  hears  the  first 

bell  ? 

Good-morning  it  is,  for  the  sky  is  all  blue, 
The  grass  is  just  shining  and  sparkling  with  dew  ; 
The  birdies  are  singing  their  merriest  song, 
And  the  air  through  the  window  comes  sunny 
and  strong. 

Good-morning  it  is,  for  dark  was  the  night, 
And  chilly  and  still ;  but  the  morning  is 

bright. 

If  God  did  not  watch  us  and  bring  us  the  day, 
We'd  never  be  able  to  get  up  and  play. 

Good-morning,  new  day  !  I  'm  glad  we  're  awake, 
Your  work  and  your  sunshine  and  frolic  to 

take  ; 

And  I'm  glad  we  are  able  so  gayly  to  call 
Good-morning !    good-morning  !     Good  morning  to 

all! 


LADY-BIRD  AND  DADDY  LONG  LEGS.  79 


LADY-BIRD   AND   DADDY   LONGLEGS. 

LADY-BIRD,  in  gown  so  gay, 
Came  creeping  from  the  clover  ; 

Daddy  Longlegs  went  that  way,    - 
And  nearly  knocked  her  over. 

"  I  '11  tell  my  ant ! "  she  cried  out  quick. 

"  It  beats  the  bugs ! "  said  he. 
"A  tad-/0/fc  for  your  walking  stick 
Would  suit  you  well,"  said  she. 


80  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

WOULDN'T  AND   WOULD. 


I  would  n't  be  a  growler,  I  would  n't  be  a  bear  ; 
I  would  n't  be  an  owlet,  always  on  a  stare  ; 


I  would  n't  be  a  monkey,  doing  foolish  tricks  ; 
I  would  n't  be  a  donkey,  full  of  sullen  kicks. 


WOULDN'T  AND    WOULD. 


81 


I  wouldn't  be  a  goose, 

Nor  a  peacock  full  of  pride, 

But  I  would  be  a  big  boy, 
With  a  pocket  on  each  side. 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES, 


NELL   AND   HER   BIRD. 

GOOD-BY,  little  birdie  ! 

Fly  to  the  sky, 
Singing  and  singing 

A  merry  good-by. 

Tell  all  the  birdies, 
Flying  above, 


NELL   AND   HER  BIRD.  83 

Nell,  in  the  garden, 
Sends  them  her  love. 

Tell  how  I  found  you, 

Hurt,  in  a  tree ; 
Then,  when  they  're  wounded, 

They  '11  come  right  to  me. 

I  'd  like  to  go  with  you 

If  I  could  fly  ; 
It  must  be  so  beautiful 

Up .  in  the  sky  ! 

Why,  little  birdie! 

Why  don't  you  go? 
You  sit  on  my  finger, 

And  shake  your  head,  "  No  ! "  - 

He 's  off !  Oh  !  how  quickly 

And  gladly  he  rose ! 
I  know  he  will  love  me 

Wherever  he  goes. 

I  know  —  for  he  really 

Seemed  trying  to  say, 
'My  dear  little  Nelly, 
I  can't  go  away." 

But  just  then  some  birdies 

Came  flying  along, 
And  sang  as  they  neared  us 

A  chirruping  song ; 


84  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

And  he  felt  just  as  I  do 
When  girls  come  and  shout 

Right  under  the  window, 
"  Come,  Nelly  !  come  out ! " 

It 's  wrong  to  be  sorry  ; 

I  ought  to  be  glad  ; 
But  he's  the  best  birdie 

That  ever  I  had. 


THERE  was  an  old  weather-vane  high  on  a  shed, 
The  wind  came  a  courting  and  turned  his  head 
And  all  it  could  utter  for  lack  of  mouth 
Was  —  East,  and  West,  and  North,  and  South. 


DUMPY  DICKY  said,  "I  can't;" 
Joe  said,  "  By  and  by  ;  " 

Grumpy  Jacky  said,  "  I  shan't ; " 
Tommy  said,  "I'll  try." 


THE  CAT  AND    THE  CONCERT. 


Have  you  heard  the  news,  good  neighbor?' 
"No.  What  is  the  news,  I  pray?" 

Why  the  cat  went  down  to  a  concert 
And  frightened  the  music  away. 


86 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  NEW  SLATE.  87 


THE  NEW  SLATE. 

SEE  my  slate  !  I  dot  it  new, 
Tos  I  b'oke  the  other, 

Put  my  'ittle  foot  right  froo, 
Running  after  mother. 

I  tan  make  you  lots  o'  sings, 
Pass  as  you  tan  tell  'em, 

T's  and  B's  and  big  O  rings, 
Only  I  tan't  spell  'em. 

I  tan  make  a  funny  pig 

Wid  a  turly  tail-y, 
'Ittle  eyes,  and  snout  so  big 

Pokin'  in  a  pail-y. 

I  tan  make  a  elephant, 
Wid  his  trunk  a-hangin'; 

An'  a  boy  —  who  says  I  tan't? 
Wid  his  dun  a-bangin'. 

An'  the  smoke  a-tummin'  out 
(Wid  my  t'umb  I  do  it, 

Rubbin'  all  the  white  about), 
Sparks  a-flyin'  froo  it 

I  tan  make  a  bu-ful  house 
Wid  a  tree  behind  it, 


88  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

An'  a  'ittle  mousy-mouse 
Runnin'  round  to  find  it. 

I  tan  put  my  hand  out  flat 
On  the  slate,  and  draw  it 

(Ticklin'  is  the  worst  of  that)  ! 
Did  you  ever  saw  it  ? 

I  tan  do  me  runnin'  'bout  — 
Mamma's  'ittle  posset 

(Slate's  so  dusty,  rubbin'  out, 
Dess  oo'd  better  wass  it). 

Now,  then,  s'all  I  make  a  tree 
Wid  a  birdie  in  it  ? 

All  my  picsurs  you  s'all  see 
If  you'll  wait  a  minute. 

No,  I  dess  I'll  make  a  man 
Juss  like  Uncle  Roily. 

See  it  tummin',  fass  's  it  tan  ? 
Bet  my  slate  is  jolly! 


LITTLE  POT  SOON  HOT.  89 

LITTLE  POT  SOON  HOT. 


FUME  and  fury  !     I  have  cause 
To  tear  about  and  break  the  laws. 

But,  on  the  whole,  I  'd  better  not ; 
Little  pots  are  soon  hot." 

Little  souls  slights  discover ; 
Big  souls  pass  'em  over. 

Big  souls  bear  their  trouble; 
Little  souls  sizz  and  bubble. 

Little  souls  oft  ferment; 
Big  souls  are  content. 

Big  souls  tumble  slowly ; 
Little  souls  —  roly  poly  ! 

Big  souls,  like  as  not, 
When  it's  fitting,  do  get  hot. 

But  "little  pots"  all  grandeur  spoil. 
I  '11  think  a  bit  before  I  boil ! 


90  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


NELL'S  NOTIONS. 

THREE-YEAR-OLD  Nell  by  the  window-pane  stood, 
A  good  little  girl,  and  as  pretty  as  good, 
Watching  the  snow  come  down  — 
Falling  so  lightly, 
"So  swiftly  and  brightly, 
It  whitened  all  the  town. 

;  See,  Aunty  ! "  she  cried,  in  a  joyous  strain, 
'  Oh,  Aunty,  look  out !  and  see  the  popped  rain  ! 
The  air  is  as  full  as  can  be  ; 
And  it  never  stops, 
But  it  jumps  and  hops, 
Like  the  corn  that  you  pop  for  me." 

Winter  passed  on  ;  and  Spring-time  was  here  — 
Spring  with  its  flowers,  its  brightness  and  cheer, 
And  the  birds  were  wild  with  song. 
Ah,  sweet  was  the  note 
From  each  tiny  throat! 
Nell  listened  the  whole  day  long. 

Tell  me,  dear  Aunty,  what  do  they  eat, 
These  dear  little  birds,  that  they  sing  so  sweet  ? ' 
Nell  asked,  in  her  wonder  and  glee. 
"  Oh,  Aunty,  /  think 
They  have  sky  to  drink, 
.And  flowers  for  their  breakfast  and  tea." 


NEVER  A   NIGHT.  91 

The  quick,  green-winged  katydids  filled  her  with  awe, 
Such  wonderful  creatures  she  'd  ne'er  seen  before  ; 
For  hours  she  would  question  and  tease, 
Till,  "They're  leaves!"  she  said, 
"With  legs  and  a  head, 
And  they're  huntin'  about  for  their  trees. 

"  Why,  Aunty,  hold  still  !  there 's  a  girl  in  your  eyes ! " 
And  queer  little  Nell  fairly  screamed  with  surprise. 
"Why,  Aunty,  it's  Nell  in  there! 
I  can  see  it  as  plain  — 
There !  I  see  it  again ! 
Why,  you  're  full  of  me  everywhere  !  " 


NEVER  a  night  so  dark  and  drear, 
Never  a  cruel  wind  so  chill, 

But  loving  hearts  can  make  it  clear, 
And  find  some  comfort  in  it  still. 


92 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


SNOW,  snow,  everywhere  ! 
Snow  on  frozen  mountain  peak, 
Snow  on  Flippit's  sunny  hair, 
Snow  flakes  meltipg  on  his  cheek. 
Snow,  snow,  wherever  you  go, 
Shifting,  drifting,  driving  snow. 

But  Flippit  does  not  care  a  pin, 
It 's  Winter  without  and    Summer  within. 
So,  tumble  the  flakes,  or  rattle  the  storm, 
He  breathes  on  his  fingers  and  keeps  them 
warm. 


A   STRANGER  IN  THE  PEW.  93 


SOME  one  we  cannot  hear, 
Some  one  we  cannot  see, 
Shakes  the  baby, 
Wakes  the  baby, 
Makes  him  laugh  with  glee. 


A  STRANGER  IN  THE  PEW. 

POOR  little  Bessie!     She  tossed  back  her  curls, 
And,  though  she  is  often  the  sweetest  of  girls, 
This  was  something  she  could  n't  and  would  n't  endure  ; 
'Twas  the  meanest,  most  impolite  act,  she  was  sure, 

And  a  thing,  she  declared,  that  she  never  would  do : 
To  go  to  a  church  where  one  didn't  belong, 
Then  walk  down  the  aisle  like  the  best  in  the  throng, 

And  seat  one's  self  plump  in  another  one's  pew. 

Humph!     Didn't  her  father  own  his  out  and  out, 
And  didn't  they  fill  it  up  full,  just  about, 
When  Mamma  and  Papa,  and  herself  and  the  boys, 
Were  seated  ?     And  did  n't  their  boots  make  a  noise 

In  moving  along  to.  make  room  for  a  stranger  ? 
And  was  n't  it  cool,  with  the  brazenest  face, 
To  expect  at  each  hymn  Pa  would  find  out  the  place 
(If  Ben  did  n't,  or  Bob,  but  there  was  n't  much  danger)  ? 


94  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

With  such  feelings  at  heart,  and  their  print  on  her  face 
Last  Sunday  our  Bessie  hitched  out  of  her  "  place " 
To  make  room  for  a  girl,  very  shabby  and  thin, 
Who  had  stood  in  the  aisle  till  mamma  asked  her  in. 

The  poor  little  thing  tried  her  best  not  to  crowd 
And  Bessie,  forgetting,  soon  had  the  mishap 
To  slip  from  her  drowsiness  into  a  nap, 

From  which  she  soon  wakened  by  crying  aloud. 

Poor  Bessie  sat  upright,  with  cheeks  all  a-flame 
At  sleeping  in  church,  and  trembled  with  shame ; 
But  'twas  strange  at  the  close  of  the  service  to  see 
Our  Bessie,  now  gentle  as  gentle  could  be, 

Take  the  hand  of  the  shabby  young  girl  in  the  pew, 
And  walk  with  her  out  of  the  church  with  a  smile 
That  shone  through  the  tears  in  her  eyes  all  the  while, 

And  brightened  her  face  with  a  radiance  new. 

"  Good-by,"  whispered  Bessie  at  parting,  "  and  mind 
Our  pew's  forty-five,  with  a  pillar  behind." 
Then  she  stole  to  her  mother :  "  Oh,  Mother,  I  dreamed 
Such  a  curious  dream !     'Twas  no  wonder  I  screamed. 

I  thought  I  was  sitting  in  church  in  this  dress, 
With  a  girl  like  a  beggar-girl  right  in  our  pew  — 
We  were  sitting  alone  on  the  seat,  just  we  two  — 

And  I  felt  more  ashamed  than  you  ever  could  guess  ; 

"When,  all  in  a  moment,  the  music  grew  loud, 
And  on  it  came  floating  a  beautiful  crowd  ; 
They  were  angels,  I  knew,  for  they  joined  in  the  song, 
And  all  of  them  seemed  in  the  church  to  belong. 


A    STRANGER  IN   THE  PEW.  95 

Slowly  and  brightly  they  sailed  through  the  air ; 
The  rays  from  the  window  streamed  crimson  and  blue, 
And  lit.  them  in  turn  as  their  forms  glided  through ;  — 

I  could  feel  their  soft  robes  passing  over  my  hair. 

"  One  came  to  my  side.     Very  sadly  she  said, 
'  There 's  a  stranger  in  here/     I  lifted  my  head, 
And  looked  at  the  poor  shabby  girl  with  disdain. 
'  Tis  not  she,'  said  the  angel ;  '  the  haughty  and  vain 

Are  the  strangers  at  church.    She  is  humble  and  true.' 
Then  I  cried  out  aloud,  and  the  minister  spoke, 
And  just  as  they  floated  away  I  awoke, 

And  there  sat  that  dear  little  girl  in  our  pew!" 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  QUEEN  O'  MAY. 

THE  Queen  o'    May 
Held  court  one  day, — 
The  fields  had  nought  to  give  her ; 
All  in  their  best 
Her  maids  were  drest, 
And  they  began  to  shiver. 

"  Now,  never  sneeze, 

But  warm  your  knees, 
And  look  for  daisies  growing  ; 
You'll  find  the  air 
Quite  soft  and  fair, 
Unless  it  fall  a-snowing." 

"Quite  soft!"  they  said, 

Each  loyal  maid. 

So  fair  ! "  the  boys  went  chaffing ; 
But  soon  the   May 
Came  down  that  way, 
And  set  them  all  a-laughing. 


THE   QUEEN  O'  MAY. 


97 


98  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

PUSSY'S  CLASS. 

"Now  children,"  said  Puss,  as  she  shook  her  head, 

"It  is  time  your  morning  lesson  was  said:" 
So  her  kittens  drew  near  with  footsteps  slow, 
And  sat  down  before  her,  all  in  a  row. 

"Attention,  class!"  said  the  cat-mamma, 

"And  tell  me  quick  where  your  noses  are." 
At  this  all  the  kittens  sniffed  the  air 

As  though  it  were  filled  with  a  perfume  rare. 

"Now  what  do  you  say  when  you  want  a  drink?" 

The  kittens  waited  a  moment  to  think, 
And  then  the  answer  came  clear  and  loud  — 

You  ought  to  have  heard  how  those  kittens  meow'd ! 

"  Very  well.     '  Tis   the  same,  with  a  sharper  tone, 

When  you  want  a  fish  or  a  bit  of  bone. 
Now  what  do  you  say  when  children  are  good  ? " 
And  the  kittens  purred  as  soft  as  they  could. 

"  And  what  do  you  do  when  children  are  bad  ? 

When  they  tease  and  pull  ?"  each  kitty  looked  sad. 
"  Pooh  ! "  said  their  mother,  "  that  isn't  enough  ; 

You  must  use  your  claws  when  children  are  rough  ! " 

"  And  where  are  your  claws  ?  no,  no,  my  dear, 

(As  she  took  up  a  paw)  see  !  they  're  hidden  here : " 
Then  all  the  kittens  crowded  about 

To  see  their  sharp  little  claws  brought  out. 


PUSSY'S  CT.ASS. 


99 


They  felt  quite  sure  they  never  should  need 
To  use  such  weapons  —  oh,  no,  indeed ! 

But  their  wise  mamma  gave  a  pussy's  "pshaw ! " 
And  boxed  their  ears  with  her  softest  paw. 

"  Now  '  Stpisss  ! '  as  hard  as  you  can,  "  she  said  — 
But  every  kitten  hung  down  its  head  — 

"  Stpisss  !  I  say,"  cried  the  mother  cat, 

But  they  said,  "  O  mammy  we  can't  do  that!" 

"  Then  go  and  play, "  said  the  fond  mamma ; 

"  What  sweet  little  idiots  kittens  are ! 
Ah  well,  I  was  once  the  same,  I  suppose"  — 
And  she  looked  very  wise  and  rubbed  her  nose. 


100  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

TWISTAN  TURNEM,  let  me  see, 
Which  is  the  way  to  Tweedle-dee  ? 
Why,  turn  about  the  way  you  've  come, 
And  take  the  road  to  Tweedle-dum. 


WANDERING  JOE. 

TELL  me,  O  wandering  Joe ! 
How  many  miles  did  you  go? 
Why,  one  to  my  mother's, 
And  three  to  my  brother's, 
And  just  half  a  dozen 
To  hunt  up  a  cousin  ; 
And  half  a  mile  yonder 
A  hen-roost  to  plunder ; 
And  three  half  miles  back 
To  cover  the  track. 
Then  a  half  and  a  half 
To  water  the  calf, 
And  a  half  and  a  quarter 
Before  I  found  water  ; 
Add  a  quarter  to  that, 
When  I  chased  a  black  bat ; 
Then  two  to  town, 
To  see  Jim  Brown ; 
And  two,  and  none, 
And  one  for  fun, 


CLOUDY  TIME   OR   SHINY  TIME.  IOI 

And  one  for  luck, 

And  one  for.  pluck  ; 

And  one  for  trouble, 

And  two  for  double; 

And  then  'twas  best 

To  sit  and  rest. 

And  now,  my  friend,  says  Joe, 

How  many  miles  did  I  go? 


WHETHER  fair,  whether  foul, 

Be  it  wet  or  dry, 
Cloudy  time  or  shiny  time 

The  sun's  in  the  sky. 
Gloomy-night,  sparkle-night, 

Be  it  glad  or  dread, 
Cloudy  time  or  shiny  time, 

Stars  are  overhead. 


IO2 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE   RATS. 

WHEN  I  'm  sitting 
At  my  knitting 
After  tea  — 
Deary  me  ! 
Such  commotion, 
Land  o'  Goshen  i 
And  it 's  all 
In  the  wall. 


Rumble,  tumble, 
Flurry,  scurry. 
Now  a  rushing, 
And  a  crushing ; 


THE  RATS. 


103 


Now  a  rattle, 
And  a  battle; 
Now  a  squeak 
And  a  fall 

So  I  sit 

And  I  knit ; 

And  I  ponder 

And  wonder, 

And  scarcely  know  how. 

In  the  racket  and  row, 

My  wits  to  recall. 

But  the  clatter, 
For  that  matter, 
And  the  rumble 
And  tumble 
'And  scratching 
And  catching 
Keep  on 
Through  it  all. 

Rats  in  dozens, 
With  their  cousins, 
Or  in  droves, 
With  their  loves : 
Now  it's  raps, 
Now  it's  taps, 
Or  it 's  crunching, 
Or   munching  ; 
Or  a  creak, 
Or  a  shriek ; 


104  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

If  I  knew 
What  to  do, 
Or  you'd  show 
Where  to  go, 
I  'd  be  off 
Like  a  streak. 


But  no,  I  must  stay 
While  they  clamor  away. 
Traps,  cats, 
Sticks  or  rats- 
Bane  or  gun, 
It 's  all  one. 
No,  it 's  fudge, 
They  won't  budge ! 


THE  RATS. 

Rat  are  rats, 
Spite  of  cats 
And  the  rest. 
But — my  star!  — 
Beginning  or  end 
Or  middle,  depend 
The  things  are  a  pest; 
And  they're  all 
In  the  wall, 
So  they  are ! 


105 


io6 


RHYMES.  AND  JINGLES. 


IN   THE   WOOD. 


"  WHAT  says  the  book,  my  lassie  ? 
What  says  the  book  to  thee?" 
"It  says  the  wood  is  beautiful, 

The  blossoms  fair  to  see  ; 
It  says  the  brook  tells  merrily 

A  little  tale  of  glee, 
And  birds,  brimful  of  melody, 
Do  sing  their  songs  for  me." 


IN  THE   WOOD. 

"Then  close  the  page,  my  lassie, 

And  lift   thy  pretty  head, 
And  what  the  book  would  say  to  thee 

The  wood  shall  say  instead. 
The  brook  shall  tell  its  merry  tale, 

The  flowers  their  brightness  shed, 
And  the  birds  shall  sing — for  life  is  life, 

And  printed  words  are  dead. 

"  Hear  what  the  bird  sings,  lassie : 

'O  little  lady  fair! 
The  breath  of  flowers  is  over  thee, 

The  sunlight  in  thy  hair  ; 
The  heart  of  a  little  maiden 

Is  free  as  birds  in  the  air  — 
And  God  is  good  to  thee  and  me, 

O  little  lady  fair!'" 


108  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


COMB   MUSIC. 

Two  children  once  sat  in  the  twilight  gray 
Playing  a  tune  in  a  comical  way  ; 
They  both  pressed  a  comb  to  their  rosy  red  lips, 
And  little  they  cared  for  tickles  and  slips, 
For  wheezings,  and  paper  that  always  would  fall, 
For  oh  !  such  loud  music,  or  no  note  at  all. 
'Twas  sweet  to  their  ears,  as  fondly  they  heard 
This  musical  strain  coming  forth,  word  for  word  : 
"  W-h-h-wome,  w-h-/i-wome,  szzzceet,  zhhweet  some, 
Bheet    wev    so    h/imuble,     therzsz    nJio    blazzze    Hew 
zhhome  !  " 

Now  they  are  grown,  and  sing  in  the  choir 

Of  their  own  village  church  with  the  beautiful  spire  ; 

So  sweet  are  her  notes,  so  perfect  her  skill, 

Not  a  bird  of  the  air  but  might  envy  her  trill, 

Not  a  wind  of  the  night  but  right  gladly  would  know 

How  to  make  his  rich  music  so  plaintive  and  low. 

Together  their  voices  in  harmony  blend, 
And  steep  all  their  days  in  a  joy  without  end  ; 
And  yet  in  their  hearts  they  have  always  confessed 
That  lovely  duet  long  ago  was  the  best, 
When  they  tingled  their  lips  at  the  musical  comb, 
And   told    all    the  world    there  was   "zno   blaizzz   Hew 
zhome." 


COMB  MUSIC. 


109 


110  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


IN   THE  BASKET. 

SAY.  do  you  hear  my  basket 
Go  "kippy!  kippy !  pe-ek"? 

Maybe  my  funny  basket 
Is  learning  how  to  speak. 

If  you  want  to  know  the  secret, 

Go  ask  the  speckled  hen, 
And  tell  her  when  I've  wanned   them 

I  '11  bring  them  back  again. 


COMING. 

Two  fair  ships  are  sailing, 

Sailing  over  the  sea, — 
Willie's  ship  and   my  ship  — 

Full  as  full  can  be  ; 
Side  by  side,  my  Willie  says, 

Like  as  pin  to  pin. 
Oh,  the   happy,  happy  days 

When  our  ships  come  in  ! 


COMING. 

While  our  ships  are  sailing, 

Sailing  over  the  sea,  — 
Willie's  ship  and  my  ship,  — 

Full  as  full  can  be, 
Sailing  on  the  sunny  tide, 

Grieving  would  be  sin  : 
Soon  or  late,  and  side  by  side, 

Shall  our  ships  come  in. 


in 


112  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


THE   DAINTY   MISS    ROSE. 

Oh,  a  perfect  nose, 

And  dainty  toes, 
And  woolen  hose, 

Had  Miss   Rose! 

A  dog  was  she  of  high  degree, 

Born  of  an  ancient  family. 
From  her  mother's  side 

Came  her  Spanish  pride  ; 
She  had  royal  ways, 

And  her  pedigree  reckoned 
From  the  glorious  days 

Of  Charles  the  Second ! 

Well,  she  needed  an.  escort 
To  a  party  of  some  sort, 


THE  DAINTY  MISS  ROSE.  1 13 

One  evening  in  May. 

And  to  see  her  bother 
'Twixt  one  dog  and  t'other, 
Was  good  as  a  play. 

Many  pups  came  to  say 

They  would  be  at  her  service, 
But  she  sent  them  away 

With  a  manner  quite  nervous. 
In  fact,  I  must  own, 

Of  dogs  fully  grown, 
She  snubbed  them  by  name 

As  fast  as  they  came: 
Sir  Rover  was  coarse, 

And  Ponto  was  cruel ; 
Old  Bounce  was  a  horse, 

.Young  Pip  lived  on  gruel ; 
Spitz  was  a  sneak, 

Fido  was  surly ; 
Pomp  was  too  sleek, 

Carlo  too  curly ; 
Even  elegant   Pap, 

Who  wore  a  gold  collar, 
She  said,  with  a  snap, 

Wasn't  worth  a  lead  dollar. 

Then  came  a  brave  wight 

For  a  desperate  pull; 
He  had  been  in  a  fight, 

Old  Major  de  Bull. 
He  was  cross  as  a  bear, 

And  scanty  of  hair. 

8 


114  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

Also  young  Isle  of  Skye, 
Rather  down  at^  the  heel ; 

And  the  well-mannered  Guy, 
Who  was  sour,  but  genteel. 


But  dainty  Miss  Rose 

Still  tossed  up  her  nose  — 

She  ought  n't,  she  could  n't, 
She  would  n't,  she  should  n't 

With  one  of  them  go, 

She'd  thank  'em  to  know. 

By  this  time  it  was  growing  late, 
And  dainty  Rose  bemoaned  her  fate  ; 
When,  in  the  sky,  there  sprang  in  sight 
A  throbbing,  sparkling  thing  of  light. 
What's  that,"  she  cried,  "I  see  afar?" 
And  Guy  replied,  "  The  great  Dog  Star 


THE   DALVTY  ^^SS  ROSE.  115 

Too  Sirius,  dear,  for  such  as  you, 

And  very  much  above  you,  too." 
1  Not  so,  indeed  ! "  cried  dainty  Rose, 

No  longer  tossing  up  her  nose. 
;  Now,  I  am  matched  at  last,  you  see, 

The  Dog  Star  shall  my  escort  be  !  " 

Then  off  she  started,  quite  content, 
And  gallantly  the  Dog  Star  went. 
For  all  the  way  he  kept  in  sight, 
And  held  her  in  his  tender  light, 
Guiding  her  steps  with  steady  rays, 
And  blinking  when  he  met  her  gaze. 


POOR  little  mousie,  what  a  mishap  ! 
Why  did  you  put  your  nose  in  the  trap  ? 
Hold  still,  mousie,  and  trust  to  me  — 
I'll  touch  the  spring,  and  set  you  free! 


ri6 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


WAITING  FOR  FATHER.  117 


WAITING  FOR  FATHER. 

IN  the  gray  of  the  twilight  and  glow  of  the  fire, 

A  little  girl  sat  on  the  rug. 
She  was  warming  a  slipper;  and  pussy  sat  nigh  her, 

And  also  her  friend,  Mr.  Pug. 
And  the  song  in  the  heart  of  the  glad  little  girl, 
As  the  light  of  the  fire  played  over  each  curl, 

Was,  "Father  is  coming  —  hurrah!  hurrah! 

Father  is  coming  —  hurrah !  " 

She  had  spread  out  his  soft  woolen  gown  on  the  chair, 

With  its  facings  of  beautiful  blue ; 
Had  picked  up  her  playthings  that  lay  here  and  there, 

And  arranged  things  as  well  as  she  knew. 
"For  the  room  must  be  tidy  and  pretty  and  bright," 
'She  said  to  herself,  "when  he  comes,  every  night, 

And  soon  he  is  coming  —  hurrah!  hurrah! 

Father  is  coming  — hurrah  ! " 

How  rosy  her  cheeks,  and  how  sparkling  her  eyes ! 

How  dimpled  her  soft  little  hand ! 
While  Pussy  and  Pug  look  as  solemn  and  wise 

As  if  the  whole  scene  they  had  planned. 
But  you  never  would   think,  so  demure  are  the  three, 
That  the  little  maid 's  heart  could  be  singing  with  glee- 
" Father  is  coming  —  hurrah!   hurrah! 
Father  is  coming  —  hurrah  !" 


Il8  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

The  sunlight  has  vanished,  and  bleak  is  the  street, 
And  beggars  are  dreading  the  night. 

The  pavement  is  noisy  with  home-speeding  feet, 
And  only  the  windows  are  bright ; 

When  quickly  the  little  maid  springs  from  the  rug, 

Leaving  Pussy  half  sleeping,  but  followed  by  Pug  ; 

"  Father  "is  coming  —  hurrah  !    hurrah  ! 
Father  is  coming  —  hurrah!" 


WHAT   SHALL   I   BUY?1 

"I'VE  got  a  penny, 

What  shall  I  buy  ? 
I'll  buy  a  —  whistle, 
That's  what  I'll  buy. 

I've  got  two  pence, 

What  shall  I  buy  ? 
I'll  buy  a  —  pop-gun, 

That 's  what  I  '11  buy. 

I've  got  three  pence, 

What  shall  I  buy? 
I  '11  buy  a  —  horsey, 

That's  what  I'll  buy. 

1  The  charm  of  this  thrilling  ditty  lies  in  allowing  baby  to  suggest  the 
last  word  of  the  third  lines. 


RUT-A-TUT-  TUTS.  119 


RUT-A-TUT-TUTS  ! 

Who  can  crack  nuts  ? 

Squirrels,  can  you? 

That  we  can,  true  — 

Rut-a-tut-tuts, 

We  can  crack  nuts  ! " 

Chicketty-chack, 

Cracketty-crack. 

Pooh !  "  said  the  hammer, 

Silence  your  clamor, 

Rut-a-tut-tuts  — 

Who  can't  crack  nuts  ?  " 


120  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


HALLOO,  OLD  SCUTTLE! 

HALLOO,  old  scuttle!   good  old  soul, 
What 's  become  of  all  your  coal  ? 
"Why  the  tongs  he  came  with  a  gobbledy-gun, 
And  took  my  coals  out,  one  by  one  ; 
And  the  blaze  ran  in  with  a  tricksy-spire 
And  set  the  pretty  things  a-fire ; 
And  the  blower  came  with  a  roaring-roar, 
And  made  them  burn  up  more  and  more; 
And  then  the  poker  with  koppitty-hop, 
He  poked  their  ashes  and  made  'em  drop  — 
And  that,  O  Gobbledy-Koppitty-dole ! 
Is  what 's  become  of  all  my  coal." 


OH,  NO! 

IF  blue-birds  bloomed  like  flowers  in  a  row, 
And  never  could  make  a  sound, 

How  would  the  daisies  and  violets  know 
When  to  come  out  of  the  ground  ! 

They  would  wait  and  wait  the  seasons  round 
Never  a  flower  could  on  earth  be  found. 


OH,   NO!  121 

And  what  would  birds  and  butterflies  do 

If  the  flowers  had  wings  to  fly  ? 
Why,  birds  and  blossoms,  and  butterflies  too, 

Would  stay  far  up  in  the  sky  ; 
And  then  the  people  would  droop  and  sigh, 

And  all  the  children  on  earth  would  cry. 


122  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


THE  SAND  MAN. 

OHO!  but  he  travels  the  country  over, 
The  queer  little,  kind  little,  elfish  rover! 
Lightly  he  bears  in  his  tricksome  hand 
A  silvery  horn  full  of  sleepy  sand, 
Shaking  it   here,  and  shaking  it  there, 
Till  the  blossoms  nod  in  the  drowsy  air ; 
Till  the  sunlight  creeps  up  hill  to  bed, 
Or  slips  through  the  sky  where  clouds  are  red 
Till  the  lambkins  bleat  a  soft  "  good-night ! " 
And  birds  grow  still  in  the  tree-tops .  bright, 
While  sweet  little  eyelids,  all  over  the  land, 
Droop  with  the  weight  of  the  silvery  sand. 

Oho !  Oho !  where  the  Sand  Man  goes 
Every  one  wonders  and  nobody  knows  ; 
For  just  when  the  right  time  comes  to  peep, 
Little  and  big  are  falling  asleep. 
He  steals  to  the  cradles,  the  cribs,  the  beds, 
And  sprinkles  his  sand  over  children's  heads, 
Till  bright  little  faces  lie  warm  and  still, 
Smiling  or  grave,  at  the  Sand  Man's  will. 
He  catches  them  often  at  full  midday, 
And  bids  them  stop  in  their  merry  play  — 
With  a  "  Ho !  my  darling,"  "  Hi !  my  dear," 
I  '11  sing  a  dream-song  into  your  ear." 


THE  SAND  MAN. 


123 


Some  on  the  carpet,  some  on  the  chairs, 
Some  curled   up  on  the  nursery  stairs  ; 
Some  in  the  grass  where  the  shadows  play, 
Some  hidden  deep  in  the  fragrant   hay, 
And  some  who,  folded  in  mother's  embrace, 
Float  in  a  lullaby,  pressing  her  face. 
Oho !  but  he  travels  the  country  over, 
The  queer  little,  kind   little,  elfish  rover! 
And  whence  he  comes,  and  whither  he  goes, 
Every  one  wonders,  and  nobody  knows  ; 
For  just  when  the  right  time  comes  to  peep, 
All  the  children  are  falling  asleep. 


I24 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


TROUBLE  IN  THE  GREENHOUSE.  125 


TROUBLE   IN   THE   GREENHOUSE. 

THREE  big  cats  in  a  greenhouse. 

Oh !  they  look  so  meek, 

So  sage  and  sleek, 

That  but  for  the  clash 

And  the  sudden  crash, 

And  the  broken  pots 

Of  forget-me-nots, 

And  upset  roses, 

And  dingy  noses, 

And  draggled  vines, 

And  tangled  twines, 

And  broken  pink, 

You  'd  never  think 

What  a  fearful  fuss 

And  hopeless  muss 

Could  be  made  in  a  hurry 

And  velvet  flurry 

By  three  meek  cats  in  a  greenhouse. 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 
TEN  KINDS. 


WINNIE  WHINEY,  all  things  grieve  her  ; 
Fannie  Fibber,  who'd  believe  her? 
Lotty  Loozem,  late  to  school,  sir; 
Albert  Allplay,  quite  a  fool,  sir ; 
Kitty  Kissem,  loved  by  many, 
Georgy  Grump,  not  loved  by  any. 
Ralphy  Ruff — beware  his  fist,  sir! 
Tillie  Tattle,  like  a  blister, 
Gus  Goodaction,  bright  and  cheery, 
Sammy  Selfish,  sour  and  dreary. 
Do  you  know  them,  as  I  Ve  sung  them  ? 
Easy  'tis  to  choose  among  them. 


HAVE    YOU  APPLES? 


127 


"  HAVE  you  apples,  good  grocer  ? " 
"  O  yes,  ma'am,  how  many  ? " 

"  How  do  you  sell  them,  Sir  ? " 
"Two  for  a  penny." 

"  I  '11  have  two,  Mr.  Grocer, 

They  're  good  for  my  baby  ; 
Send  '  em  home  in   an  hour,  Sir. 
"That  I- will,  lady/' 


128 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THERE  was  an  old  woman  of  Wigg, 
Who  fattened  her  favorite  pig. 
"I'll  eat  him,"  she  said, 
"From  his  tail  to  his  head"  — 
This  greedy  old  woman  of  Wigg. 


THERE  was  a  brave  knight  of  Lorraine, 
Who  hated  to  give  people  pain. 
"  I  '11  skeer  them,"  he  said, 
"  But  won't  kill  'em  dead  "  — 

This  noble  young  knight  of  Lorraine. 


THE  OLD  DOCTOR   OF  BRILLE. 


I29 


THERE  was  an  old  doctor  of  Brille, 
Who  gave  all  his  patients  a  pill. 
It  will  cure  'em,"  he  said, 
Or  else  kill  'em  dead"  — 
This  skillful  old  doctor  of  Brille. 
9 


130 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


FAIRY   TALES. 

'Et  me  see,"  thought  little  May, 
Waking  from  her  slumber, 


"  How  many  'tories  do  I  know  ? 

Oh,  a  mons'rous  number ! 
First  Cin'rella  with  her  shoe, 
All  d'essed  up  so  sp'ended  ; 
"  'Es,  an'  naughty  B'ue  Beard  too, 

Always  gettin'  'fended ; 
'Fended  with  his  wives  he  was, 
All  account  of  keys, 


FAIRY  TALES.  131 

Then  a-comin'  back  to  say 

'  DIE  MA'AM  !  on  your   knees  ! ' 
Oh  my !  if  she  had  n't  had 

Her  faithful  sister  Ann, 
No  one  ever  would  have  come 

To  kill  that  wicked  man  ! 

Then  the  Bean-stalk  —  that  was  nice  ! 

Wis'  I  'd  one  this  minute, 
Guess,  though,  I  'd  be  most  af 'aid — 

Might  be  giants  in  it. 
Wonder  if  I  was  to  be 

Jack  the   Giant-killer 
Nursey'd  be  af'aid  o'   me? 

Why,  I  wouldn't  kill  her! 
Not  unless  she  combed  too  hard  — 

Then  I  'd  shake  my  axe 
Jus'  a  'ittle  —  wis'  I  had 

A  real  one  jus'  like  Jack's. 
Wis'  I  had  a  pair  o'  boots 

Like  Puss,  who  went  a-walkin' ! 
Wis'  I  had  a  Pussy  too, 

Sittin'  up  a-talkin'. 
I  wouldn't  like  to  go  get  lost 

Like  'ittle  Hop  my  T'umb 
'Way  'n  the  forest  (don't  I  wish 

My  mamma  'd  only  come !) 
A'most  makes  me  feel  af'aid 

T'inkin'  'bout  'em  now  ; 
Gettin'  lef  that  way  I  t'ink 

Was  dreffle,  any  how  ;  — 


132  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

But,  oh,  the  chil'ren  in  the  wood, 
They  must  have  been  so  f'ightened 


A-list'nin,  to  the  t'under,  or 
A-watchin'  when  it  lighten'd. 

Don't  see  why  they  did  n't  go  ; 
Maybe,  though,  they  could  n't 


CAN-AW-MUST.  —  MO  THE  RLE  SS.  133 

My  Uncle  would  n't  t'eat  me  so, 

Uncle  Rodney  would  n't. 
Maybe  in  the  mornin',   too, 

They  heard  a  lion  roarin'  — 
Here  comes  Nursey !  now  I  '11  play 

I  'm  fast  as'eep,  a-snorin'. 


OLD  Can-an'-must  is  a  giant  bold, 
But  one  thing  scares  him,  I  've  been  told  ; 
"I'm  afraid  when  a  youngster  wastes  his  crust, 
He'll  never  be  thrifty,"  says  Can-an'-must. 

Old  Can-an'-must  is  a  giant  bold, 
And  only  one  thing  makes  him  scold  : 
"  If  I  catch  a  youngster  leaving  a  crust, 
I  '11  gobble  him  up ! "  says  Can-an'-must. 


MOTHERLESS. 

"I  WISH  she  had  not  died,"  she  said, 
The  words  were  soft  and  low  ; 

"  Most  little  girls  like  me,  papa, 
Have  dear  mammas,  you   know. 

"There's  Lulu  Hart,  next  door.     I  think 

It 's  nice  to  live  that  way ; 
With  some  one  sitting  at  the  blinds 
To  watch  you  while  you  play ; 


134  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

"I  often  see  her  look  up  quick, 

And  smile  at  some  one  there ; 
And  when  she  laughs  and  hides  away, 
She  knows  some  one  will  care. 

"Why  didn't  Doctor  Bishop  cure 

My  mother,  dear  papa? 
That's  what  he  did  one  time,  you  know, 
For  Lulu  Hart's  mamma. 

"Say,  papa,  was  God  good  to  take 

My  own  mamma  away? 
For  I  was  just  a  baby  then  — 
Papa,  why  don't  you  say  ? " 

"  Yes,  always  good,"  he  sobbed.    "  Mamma 

Is  very  happy,  dear." 
His  little  girl  sprang  up,  nor  cared 
Another  word  to  hear. 

"  Why,  papa !  crying  ?     Please  don't  cry. 

Do  you  feel  sorry,  too  ? 
Now,  papa,  see;  I  never  meant 
I  didn't  care  for  you. 

"  If  mamma 's  happy  in  the  sky  — 

You  told  me  so  before  — 
We  must  n't  cry.     I  think  it 's  wrong 
To  want  her  any  more. 

"  Laugh,  papa,  quick  !     I  '11  pull  your  hair  ! 
I  '11  kiss  your  funny  nose ; 


MOTHERLESS.  135 

Laugh,  quick,  for  Minnie ;  else  I  '11  try 
To  jump  right  on  your  toes. 

"  Poor  eyes  !  all  wet.     I  '11  kiss  them  dry. 

What 's  in  your  pocket  ?     See. 
Oh  !  where 's  your  watch  ?     Now,  wont  you 

please 
Just  make  it  tick  for  me  ? 

"  It 's  nice  to  have  a  dear  papa. 
(How  big  it  is,  and  bright. 
I  hear  it  ticky,  ticky,  tick. 
It's  very  loud  to-night.) 

"  Ride  me  to  Banbury  Cross,  papa  ! 

Now,  don't  you  let  me  fall. 
When  I  was  littler,  how  I  slipped  ! 
I  could  n't  keep  on  at  all. 

"Oh!  there's  the  tea-bell.     Now  you've  tossed 

My  hair  like  everything  ! 
I  '11  toss  yours    too.     Oho  !     Oho  ! 
You  look  just  like  a  king  — 

"  For  kings  have  crowns,  you  know,  papa, 

And  your  hair's  standing  straight. 
I  knew  you  'd  laugh  !     There,  now,  you  're  good  — 
Come  quick,  and  show  Aunt  Kate." 

Aunt,  at  the  table,  glanced  at  one, 
And  then  glanced  at  the  other; 


136  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

She  could  not  guess  what  hidden  thing 
Had  happened  to  her  brother. 

His  shining  hair  stood  like  a  crown, 

His  smile  was  warm  and  bright ; 
"Why,  John,"  she  said,  "you  really    seem 
Like  your  old  self  to-night." 


OLD  SIMON. 


137 


OLD    SIMON. 

OLD  SIMON  and  his  boys  were   glad, 

To  take  the  plainest  fare  ; 
They  brightened  everything  they  had, 

With  gratitude  and  prayer. 

"Give  thanks,"  said  Simon,  "when  ye  rise, 
Give  thanks  when  day  is  done." 

And  none  than  Simon  were  more  wise, 
Or  happy,  under  the  sun. 


138  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  LITTLE  MOTE. 

A  LITTLE  mote  lived   in  a  sunbeam, 

And  danced  in  its  light  all  day ; 
But  she  jumped  with  surprise  one  morning, 

At  hearing  the  housemaid  say : — 

"Oh,  the  dust!     How  it  keeps  one  a-working! 

It  settles  all  over  the  room  — 
And  the  air  is  so  full,  it  is  folly 
To  labor  with  duster  and  broom ! " 

"  Poor  thing ! "   sighed  the  mote,  "  well,  I  'm  sorry. 

I  think  I'll  go  hide  in  her  hair  — 
I  'm  such  a  wee  speck  of  a  dustlet 
She  never  will  know  I  am  there." 


WHEN  I  was  little, 
Thought  I  was  big; 

Now  I  'm  a  giant, 
Don't  care  a  fig. 

When  I  was  nobody, 
Felt  quite  a  chap ; 

Now  that  I'm  somebody, 
Don't  care  a  snap. 


GUARDIAN  ANGELS. 


139 


WHAT  makes  baby  brave  and  bright? 
Angels  guard  him  day  and  night. 


1 40  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  ALPHABET. 

LITTLE  boys  with  pockets, 

Little  boys  with  none, 
Little  bright-eyed  lassies 

Gather,  every  one! 
Crowd  around  me  closely. 

Would  you  master  books? 
You  must  first  discover 

How  each  letter  looks. 

A  has  a  bar 

Where  a  fairy  might  ride; 

B  is  a  post 

With  two  loops  at  the  side. 

C  might  be  round 

If  a  piece  you  would  lend  ; 

D  is  a  buck-saw 
Standing  on  end. 

E  has  a  peg 

In   the  middle,  they  say; 

F  is  an  E 

With  the  bottom  away. 

G  is  like  C, 
With  a  block  on  one  end; 

TT   has  a  seat 

That  would  hold  you,  depend. 


THE  ALPHABET.  I41 

I  is  so  straight 

It  would  do  for  a  prop ; 

J  is  a  crook 

With  a  bar  at  the  top. 

K.  is  a  stick 
With  a  crotch  fastened  to  K 

L  is  a  roost, 

If  the  chickens  but  knew  it. 

]Vt  has  four  parts, 

As  you  quickly  may  see ; 

N?  the  poor  fellow! 
Is  made  out  of  three. 

O  is  so  round 

It  would  do  for  a  hoop  ; 

P  is  a  stick 

With  a  top  like  a  loop. 

Q,  to  be  curly 

Is  constantly  trying  ; 

R  is  like  B, 

With  the  bottom  loop  flyin;.>;. 

S  is  a  snake, 

All  crooked  and  dread  ; 

T  is  a  pole 
With  a  bar  for  a  head. 

U  it  is  plain, 

Would  make  a  good  swing  ; 

V  is  as  sharp 

As  a  bumble-bee's  sting. 


142  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

W  ought 
To  be  called  double-V ; 

X   is  a  cross, 

As  you  plainly  can  see  ; 

Y  is  just  formed 

Like  a  V  on  a  stand ; 

Z  is  the  crookedest 
Thing  in  the  land! 


EARLY  to  bed  and  early  to  rise : 

If  that  would  make  me  wealthy  and  wise 

I  'd  rise  at  daybreak,  cold  or  hot, 

And  go  back  to  bed  at  once.     Why  not  ? 


THE  COOK'S  LITTLE  BOY. 

A  REAL  apple-pudding  for  Mammy  and  me! 
A-boiling  as  hard  as  I  ever  did  see  ! 
O  Mammy !  I  'm  going  to  jump  up  and  look, 
And  tell  the  old  pudding  to  hurry  and  cook. 

Is  it  looking  in,  Mammy,  that  hinders  the  boil  ? 
Well,  I  'd  feel  very  bad  for  my  pudding  to  spoil 
So  I  '11  cover  it  up,  like  a  good  little  son, 
And  play  on  the  floor  till  you  tell  me  it's  done. 


THE   COOK'S  LITTLE  BOY.  143 

There 's  the  chil'ren  up-stairs  —  they  're  dressed  up  so 

fine, 

But  their  pudding's  no  better  than  Mammy's  and  mine. 
Oh !  isn't  it  nice  when   your  Mammy 's  the  cook, 
And  whenever  you  want  you  can  climb  up  and  look ! 


144  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


HARRY. 

Hurrah  for  the  bouncer,  exactly  fourteen  ; 
The  blithest  old  schoolboy  that  ever  was  seen  , 
Hurrah  for  the  Harry  who  went  by,  this  way, 
Last  Valentine's  eve,  thirteen  and  a  day  ! 

There  was  Harry,  aged  tivelve,  I  remember  him  well 
A  hawk  from  a  hernshaw  he  always  could  tell  ; 
And  Harry,  eleven  —  ah  !  how  he  would  fiddle 
And  scrape  with  his  bow  from  the  end  to  the  middle. 

Then  the  bold  boy  of  ten  that  my  Harry  appeared,. 
A  few  years  ago,  when  the  war-mists  were  cleared ; 
A  chubby  young  fellow  he  flourished  at  nine, 
A  right  chubby  fellow,  this  Harry  of  mine. 

At  eight  he  was  slender ;   at  seven,  quite  fat ; 

At  six  he  was  saucy  —  depend  upon  that! 

At  five  he  put  on  his  first  trowsers  and  jacket ; 

At  four  who  could  match  him  for  making  a  racket  ? 

At  three  the  young  rascal  was  always  in  trouble  ; 
At  two  he  was  teething  (his  front  teeth,  and  double) 
At  one  he  was  precious  and  something  to  carry, 
And  the  year  before  that  there  was  never  a  Harry! 


THREE    WAYS. 


THREE  WAYS. 

'How  sweet,"  said  the  swan, 

"  To  glide  and  plash  ! 
And  not,  like  a  frog, 
To  dive  and  dash." 

'  How  fine,"  said  the  frog, 

"  To  dive  and  dash  ! 

And  not,  like  a  swan, 

To  glide  and  plash." 

'  But  better  than  either 
To  float  with  grace," 
A  pond  lily  whispered, 
"Yet  keep  your  place." 


146  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


TOM  of  Clapham  used  to  say 
He  loved  his  mother  dearly  ; 

Yet  he  vexed  her  sorely  every  day- 
Does  that  strike  you  queerly  ? 


WHAT   THEY  SAY. 

WHAT  does  the  drum  say?     "Rub-a-dub-dub! 
Rub-a-dub,  rub-a-dub  !     Pound  away,  bub ! 
Make  as  much  racket  as  ever  you  can. 
Rub-a-dub  !  rub-a-dub  !     Go  it,  my  man ! " 

What  does  the  trumpet  say  ?     "  Toot-a-toot-too  ! 
Toot-a-toot,  toot-a-toot !     Hurrah  for  you  ! 
Blow  in  this  end,  sir,  and  hold  me  out,  so. 
Toot-a-toot !  toot-a-toot !     Why  don't  you  blow  ? ' 

What  does  the  whip  say  ?     "  Snaperty-snap  ! 

that  a  crack,  sir  —  flipperty  flap  ! 
Up  with  the  handle,  and  down  with  the  lash. 
Snaperty!  snaperty !     Done  in  a  flash." 

What  does  the  gun  say  ?     "  Put  in  my  stick, 
I'm  a  real  pop-gun.     Fire  me  quick  ! 
See  that  you  fire  in  nobody's  eye. 
Steady  !  my  manikin.     Now  let  it  fly  ! " 


MY  BABY.  147 

What  does  the  sword  say  ?     Swishy-an-swish ! " 
Flash  in  the  sunlight,  and  give  me  a  wish. 
Wish  I  was  real,  sir— cut  'em  in  bits! 
Would  n't  I  scare  all  the  world  into  fits  ! " 

What  do  they  all  say,  trumpet  and  gun, 
Whip,  sword,  and  drum-stick  ?     Hurrah  for  fun  !  " 
Babies  no  longer,  but  stout  little  men, 
Racket  forever !    and  racket  again  ! " 


ONE  step  —  two  step, 

Three  step — four. 
Who  says  my  baby 

Can't  travel  the  floor? 
Five  step  —  six  step  — 

Seven  step  —  eight! 
Now  shall  my  baby 

Rest  him  in  state! 


I48 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


MELONS. 


Melons !  melons ! 

All  day  long 
Joe's  mother  sits 

Selling  melons. 
"  Ho  !  ripe  and  rich  !  " 

Is  her  song, 
All  day  long 

Selling  melons. 


MELONS. 


149 


MELONS  !  melons ! 

All  day  long, 
Joe  walks  the  street 

Selling  melons. 
"  Ho !  ripe  and  sweet ! 

Is  his  song, 
All  day  long 

Selling  melons. 


150  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


HOW  MANY  THINGS  IN  MY  POCKET? 

Tap  at  your  brain  and  unlock  it, 

Then  count  all  the  things  in  my  pocket: 

A  nail  and  a  screw, 

A  screw-driver,  too; 
•      A  cent  and  a  dollar, 

A  tumbled-up  collar  ; 

A  neck-tie  and  glove, 

A  note  from  my  love ; 

Two  peppermint-drops, 

A  couple  of  tops  ; 

A  buckle,  a  ball, 

The  head  of  a  doll ; 

A  top-snare,  of  course, 

A  six-penny  horse  ; 

Four  pins,  always  handy, 

And  three  sticks  of  candy ; 

Ten  nuts  and  a  pen, 

A  squirt  —  and  what  then  ? 

Why,  my  knife,  to  be  sure, 

And  an  old  wooden  skewer  ; 

That's  all  —  oh!  a  string, 

A  galvanized  ring ; 

A  pistol  (but  no  one  could  cock  it), 

And  that 's  all  I  had  in  my  pocket. 


THE  GALLANT  OUTRIDERS. 


THE   GALLANT   OUTRIDERS. 

"  WHERE  have  you  been,  my  children  ; 

Where  have  you  been,  I  pray?" 
"Oh,  but  we've  been  a-riding, 

A-riding  the  live-long  day." 

"  And  how  did  you  rule,  my  darlings  ; 

And  where  did  all  of  you  go  ? " 
"  We  all  of  us  went  on  horseback, 

A-galloping  in  a  row. 


'  Jack  had  the  whole  of  the  saddle  ; 

I  held  on  to  the  tail ; 
And  Leslie,  under  the   fore-feet, 

Managed  to  ride  the  rail ; 


152  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

"Jackey  galloped  and  cantered, — 

Played  he  galloped,  I   mean  ; 

For  Les.  and  I  did  the  rocking, 

And  Jack  just  rode  between. 

"  Oh,  did  n't  our  animal  caper 

As  he  hitched  himself  along! 
We  might  have  kept  on  forever, 
If  they  'd  only  made  him  strong. 

"But  when  1  pitched  on  the  carpet, 

His  tail  so  tight  in  my  hand, 

And  Les.  from  the  rail  fell  kicking, 

Why,  horsey  came  to  a  stand. 

"  If  Les.  had  only  kept  quiet, 

We  might  have  played  we  were  dead 
I  don't  see  the  sense  in  yelling 

Because  you  have  bumped  your  head. 

"Jackey  held  on  like  a  good  one, 

And  looked  as  fine  as  a  fiddle, — 
But  it's  nothing  to  ride  a-horseback 
If  a  fellow  is  on  the  middle." 


THE  BUSY  BEE. 


'53 


0  BUSY  bee  !  busy  bee  ! 

Where  is  your  home  ? " 
"  In  truth,  pretty  maiden, 

I  live  in  a  comb." 

"And  you,  little  Rabbit, 
Where  do  you  rush  ? " 

"  I  rush  to  my  home,  dear, 
Under  the  brush  ! " 


154 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


DOBBIN'S  FRIEND.  155 


DOBBIN'S   FRIEND. 

DOBBIN  has  a  little  friend, 

Spotted  white  and  sable  ; 
Every  day  she  goes  to  him, 

In  his  lonely  stable. 

Not  a  might  of  dread  has  she, 
Not  a  thought  of  danger  ; 

Lightly  runs  between  his  hoofs, 
Jumps  upon  his  manger ; 

Lays  her  soft,  warm  cheek  to  his, 
Purrs  her  meek  "Good  morning!" 

Gives  the  flies  that  hover  near, 
Such  a  look  of  warning  ! 

1  Dobbin,  dear,  she  sometimes  says, 

"  Feel    my  winter   mittens  ; 
Nice  and  warm,  you  see,  and  made 
Purposely  for  kittens. 

'Dobbin,  dear,   such    times  at  home! 

Mother  has  caught  a  rat ! 
Brought  it  home  to  show  to  us  — 
What  do  you  think  of  that  ? " 

'Dobbin!"  she  whispers,  purring  still, 

"  You    often  get  so  weary, 
Why  don't  you  balk  or  run  away, 
And  get  your  freedom,  dearie  ? " 


156  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

Then  Dobbin  gives  his  head  a  toss, 
And  says,  "  For  shame,  Miss  Kitty ! 

If  I  could  do  so  mean  a   thing, 
'Twould  be  a  monstrous  pity. 

"  No,  no  ;  my  master's  good  and  kind  ; 

I  '11  never  vex  him,  never  ! " 
And  pussy,  pleased,  still  rubs  his  cheek, 
And  likes  him  more  than  ever. 


THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT. 

I'LL  tell  you  how  I  speak  a  piece: 

First,  I  make  my  bow ; 
Then  I   bring  my  words  out  clear 

And  plain  as  I  know  how. 

Next,  I  throw  my  hands  up  so! 

Then  I  lift  my  eyes  — 
That 's  to  let  my  hearers  know 

Something   doth  surprise. 

Next,  I  grin  and  show  my  teeth, 

Nearly  every  one  ; 
Shake  my  shoulders,  hold  my  sides 

That 's  the  sign  of  fun. 


THE    WAY  TO  DO  IT.  157 

Next  I  start  and  knit  my  brow, 

Hold  my  head  erect : 
Something's  wrong,  you  see,  and  I 

Decidedly  object. 

Then  I  wabble  at  my  knees, 

Clutch  at  shadows  near, 
Tremble  well  from  top  to  toe: 

That 's  the  sign  of  fear. 

Now  I  start,  and  with  a  leap 

Seize  an  airy  dagger. 
WRETCH  !  "  I  cry.     That 's  tragedy, 

Every  soul  to  stagger. 

Then  I  let  my  voice  grow  faint, 

Gasp  and   hold  my  breath  ; 
Tumble  down  and  plunge  about : 

That 's  a  villain's  death." 

Quickly  then  I  come  to  life, 

Perfectly  restored  ; 
With  a  bow  my  speech  is  done. 

Now  you  '11  please  applaud. 


158  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


WILLY   AND   HIS    PIPE. 

WILLY  lay  by  the  dimpling  brook, 
Where  the  sun  had  lain  before  ; 
And,  strange  to  say,  when  its  place  he  took, 
The  spot  just  brightened  the  more. 

The  birds  were  singing   in  the  blue, 

A  song  that  was  like  a  hymn ; 
While  the  baby  ducklings,  two  by  two, 

Strayed  into  the  water  to  swim. 

"  Heigho  ! "  sighed  Willy,  "  I  cannot  fly, 

Nor  even  so  much  as  float ; 
And  as  for  singing  like  robins,  why, 
I  never  could   raise  a  note. 

"  But  I  can  play  on  my  pipe,"  said    he  ; 

And  soon   the  music  came  — 
So  clear  and  sweet,  so  blithesome  free, 
That  it  put  the  birds  to  shame. 

The   baby  ducklings    softly  splashed, 

The  robins  yet  harder  tried, 
The  sprinkled  grass  in  sunlight  flashed, 

As  it  nodded  by  Willy's  side. 

And,  before  he  knew,  he  was   floating  free 
On  a  sparkling  river  of  thought ; 


WILLY  BY  THE  BROOK.  159 

While  the  birds  in  the  air  came  down  to  see 
What  wonder  the  pipe  had  wrought. 

And  still    the  music  softly  rose, 

Still  Willy  was  floating  free; 
And  the  little  ducks  with  their  funny  toes, 

Were  happy  as  happy  could  be. 


i6o 


RHYMES.  AND  JINGLES. 


I  HAD  a  little  Scotchman, 
Who  reached  to  my  chin 

He  was  swift  as  an  arrow, 
And  neat  as  a  pin. 

He  ran  on  my  errands, 
And    sang  me  a  song  ; 

Oh,  he  was  as  happy 
As  summer  is  long! 


LAZY  LOU. 


161 


TROTTERV,  trottery,  out  of  breath, 
Nurse  trots  the  baby  'most  to  death 
Sick  or  well,  or  cold  or  hot, 
It's  trottery,  trottery,  trotteryrtrot ! 


LAZY  LOU. 

LAZY  Lou,  Lazy  Lou, 

What's  the  matter,  child,  with  you? 

Can't  you  work  ?     Can't  you  play  ? 


Can't  you  tuck  your  hair  away  ? 

If  I  were  you,  my  Lazy  Lou, 

I'd  change  my  ways.     That's  what  I'd  do. 


1 62 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


P  in  the  morning  early — " 

Hi  for  my  baby  sweet! 
Here's  a  gown  for  his  body, 

Here  are  shoes  for  his  feet. 
And  here  is  his  snowy  tucker 

Tied  with  ribbons  fair, 
And  here  is  his  little  mammy 

To  curl  his  bonny  hair. 
Here  is  his  little  bath-tub, 

And  here  is  his  little  sponge, 
Before  the  gown  and  the  curling 

My  baby  shall  have  a  plunge?. 


Pixs  in  the  carpet,  tacks  in  the  floor, 

Needles  in  the  drugget,  wind  through  the  door, 

Fire  in  the  fender  !     Oh,  it  beats  all  ! 

There  isn't  a  place  where  our  baby  can  crawl. 


PUSSY  AND  DOGGIE. 


163 


IF  Pussy  were  made  of  leather, 
And  Doggie  were  made  of  lead, 

I  'd  tumble  them  both  together, 
And  hammer  them  on  the  head. 

But  Pussy  is  warm  and  tender, 
And  Doggie  is  good  and  true ; 

So  I'd  rather  far  defend   her, 
And    Doggie,  too,  would  n't  you  ? 


164 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


BE  CAREFUL. 

NEVER  in  a  fool's  mouth 
Thrust  your  careless  finger  ;' 

If  you  do,  there  's  danger 
It  may  chance  to  linger. 

Never  to  the  foolish 

Tell  your  dearest  thought  ; 
Or  you'll  find  your  confidence, 

Like  your  finger,  "  caught." 

Never  with  the  silly 
Banter,  sport,  or  jest ; 

Even  for  your  frolics 

Wise  friends  are  the  best. 


FARM  LESSONS.  165 


FARM  LESSONS. 

"  Ho  !  plowman  Kelly  !     How  does  it  feel 
To  get  in  a  wagon  by  climbing  the  wheel  ? " 

"  Nay,  nay,  little  master,  don't  try  it,  I  beg, 
For  that  is  the  way  that  I  broke  my  leg." 

"Kelly,  Kelly!     Come,  show  me   the  way 
They  turn  this  machine  when  they  cut  the  hay  ! ' 

"  No,  no,  little  master,  just  let  it  be  — 
That  hay-cutter  cut  off  my  thumb  for  me." 

"  Ho,  Kelly  !     The  well-curb  is  rimmed  with  moss. 

Now  look  at  me  while  I  jump  across  ! " 
"  Hold,  hold,  young  master  !     'T  would  be  a  sin  ! 

I  tried  it  once,  and  I  tumbled  in." 

"  Kelly,  Kelly !     Send  me  to  jail, 
But  I  '11  pluck  a  hair  from  yon  pony's  tail." 

"Oh,  master,  master!     Come  back!     Don't  try  — 
That's  the  very  way  that  1  lost  my  eye." 

"  Why,  Kelly,  man,  how  under  the  sun 
Can  you  be  so  frisky  and  full  of  fun  ?  — 
With  all  your  mishaps,  you  are  never  a  spoon  — 
You  're  as  brave  as  a  lion  and  wise  as  a  coon." 

"  Well,  well,  young  master,  maybe  it 's  so, 
And  maybe  it  isn't.     But  this  I  know  : 
It  just  brings  trouble  and  mischief  arid  slaughter, 
To  be  fussin'  around  where  one  hadn't  ought  ter. 


1 66  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


OUT  OF  THE  GROUND. 

A  GLOW  in  the  sunshine, 

A  pulse  in  the  air, 
A  something  of  gladness  — 

We  cannot  tell  where  ; 
Blue,  born  of  heaven, 

Filling  the  sky ; 
A  laugh  in  the  brooklet 

Hastening  by ; 
A  stirring  of   insects 

Waking  the  wood  ; 
Prayer  breathed  in  secret : 

"  God,  thou  art  good  !  " 
Little  birds  humming  ; 

Joy  all   around  — 
The  flowers  must  be  coming 

Out  of  the  ground  ! 


OUT  OF   THE   GROUND.  167 

They're  coming!     They're  coming! 

Daffodils  sweet  — 
Hear  the  grass  whisper 

Under   our  feet ! 
Telling  of  daisies, 

Telling  of  clover, 
Telling  of  beauty 

All  the  world  over ! 
Looking  up  brightly 

Where   the  sun  shines, 
Sending  a  message 

Up  to  the  vines  : 
Wake  from  your  slumbers, 

Summon  your  powers, 
Put  forth  your  tendrils : 

They  're  coming  —  the  flowers  !  " 

They  're  coming  !     They  're'  coming  ! 

'Tis  writ  on  the  air, 
In  incense  and  harmony 

Breathed  everywhere  ! 
Winds  murmur  no  longer 

Their  woe  to  the  pines— 
But  spiders  are  spinning 

Their  gossamer  lines. 
Blue-birds  are  darting 

The  branches  among, 
Wild  with  a  pleasure 

Only  half  sung. 
Herd-bells  are  tinkling  — 

Moonie,  the  cow, 


1 68  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

Crops  the  young  grasslets 

Emerald  now. 
High  on  the  roof-top 

Sparrows  look  forth, 
Watching  for  travellers 

Flying  to  north  — 
Twittering  sparrows  ! 

Blithesome  and  true, 
You  never  left  us 

All  winter  through. 
Brave  little  sparrows  ! 

No  tempest  lowers  — 
Blest  is  your  waiting  : 

They're  coming — the  flowers! 

They  're  coming  !     They  're   coming ! 

The  beautiful  throng, 
To  sooth  us  and  cheer  us 

The  whole  summer   long. 
By  brook  and  in  meadow, 

Woodland  and  glade, 
Through  moonlight  and  starlight, 

Sunshine  and  shade, 
They're  creeping,  they're  springing, 

They're  climbing  the  hill, 
They're  twining  and   clinging  — 

Though  under  ground  still. 
The  blue-birds  have  called  them  — 

(Praise  God  for  it  all!) 
They  have  heard, -and  already 

They  answer  the   call ! 


OUT  OF  THE   GROUND.  169 

O  Snow-white  and  Purple, 

Pink,  Yellow,  and  Blue! 
Lie  close  to  their  hearts 

Till  the  day  they  come  through. 
O  spirit  of  Beauty  ! 

Spirit  of  Grace! 
Still   bide  ye  above  them 

Watching  the  place. 
Fragrance  and  Loveliness ! 

Still  hover  near, 
Soon  shall  your  hosts 

In  their  glory  appear. 
Surely  the   Spring-time 

Is  crowning  its  hours  — 
They 're  coming  !     They're  coming! 

The  beautiful  flowers! 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


POOR  CROW! 

GIVE  me  something  to  eat, 
Good  people,  I  pray  ; 

I  have  really  not  had 
One  mouthful  to-day ! 

I  am  hungry  and  cold, 
And'  last  night  I  dreamed 

A  scarecrow  had  caught  me — 
Good  land,  how  I  screamed ! 

Of  one  little  children 

And  six  ailing  wives 
(No,  one  wife  and  six  children), 

Not  one  of  them  thrives. 


THE     WOODEN  HORSE.  \7\ 

So  pity  my  case, 

Dear  people,  I    pray ; 
I'm  honest,  and  really 

I've  come  a  long  way. 


THE  WOODEN  HORSE. 

A  REAL  horse  is   good, 

But  a  horse  made  of  wood 
Is  a  much  better  horsey  for  me  ; 

For  he  needn't  be  tied, 

And  he's  steady  beside, 
And  never  gets  lazy,  you  see. 

When  pulled,  he  will  go  ; 

And  he  stops  when  you  "  whoa !  " 
For  he  always  is  willing  to  please  ; 

And  though  you  may  stay 

By  the  water  all  day, 
Not  once  for  a  drink  will  he  tease. 

Not  a  handful  of  feed, 

All  his  life,  does  he  need  ; 
And  he  never  wants  brushing  or  combing 

And  after  a  race 

All  over  the  place, 
He  never  stands  panting  and  foaming. 


172  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

He  doesn't  heed  flies, 

Though  they  light  on  his  eyes  ; 

Mosquitoes  and  gnats  he  won't  mind 
And  he  never  will  shy, 
Though  a  train  whizzes  by, 

But  always  is  gentle  and  kind. 

A  real  horse,  some  day, 
Will  be  running  away  ; 

A  donkey  is  so  apt  to  kick  ; 
A  goat  will  upset  you, 
A  doggie  will  fret  you  — 

Your  wooden  horse  has  n't  a  trick  ! 

No  chance  of  a  crash, 
Or  a  runaway  smash, 

Though  never  so  playful  and  free. 
Oh !  I  like  when  I  drive 
To  be  brought  home  alive  — 

So  a  fine  wooden  horsey  for  me ! 


BESTIR    YOURSELVES.  173 


TINKER,  come  bring  your  solder, 

And  mend  this  watch  for  me. 
Haymaker,  get  some  fodder, 

And  give  my  cat  his  tea. 
Cobbler,  my  horse  is  limping, 

He'll  have  to  be  shod  anew; 
While  the  smith  brings  forge  and  hammer 

To  make  my  daughter  a  shoe. 
Bestir  yourselves,  my  lazies! 

I  give  you  all  fair  warning : 
You  must  do  your  work  'twixt  twelve  at  night, 

And  an  hour  before  one  in  the  morning. 


THERE  was  a  rare  boy  who  fell  ill, 
And   begged  them  to  give  him  a  pill ; 
"  For  my  kind  parents'  sake, 

The  dose  I  will  take," 
Said  this  rare  little  boy  who  fell  ill. 


1/4  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


TAKING  TIME   TO   GROW. 

"  MAMMA  !  mamma  !  "  two  eaglets  cried, 
"  To  let  us  fly  you  Ve  never  tried. 
We  want  to  go  outside  and  play  ; 
We  '11  promise  not  to  go  away." 
The  mother  wisely  shook  her   head  : 
"  No,  no,  my  dears.     Not  yet,"  she  said. 

"But,  mother  dear,"  they  called  again, 
"  We  want  to  see  those  things  called  men, 
And  all  the  world  so  grand  and  gay, 
Papa  described  the  other  day. 
And — don't  you  know? — he  told  you  then 
About  a  little  tiny  wren, 
That  flew  about  so  brave  and  bold, 
When  it  was  scarcely  four  weeks  old  ? " 

But  still  the  mother  shook  her  head ; 
"  No,  no,  my  dears,  not  yet,"  she  said. 
"  Before  you  see  the  world  below, 

Far  bigger  you  will  have  to  grow. 

There  's  time  enough  to  look  for  men  ; 

And  as  for  wrens  — a  wren  's  a  wren. 

What  if  your  freedom  does  come  late  ? 

An  eaglet  can  afford  to  wait." 


TAKING    TIME   TO  GROW.  1 75 


NO,    NO,    MY   DEARS,    NOT   YET,      SHE   SAID. 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  NAUGHTY  BOY. 

"  OCH,  save  us  ! "  cried  Betty,  "  I  'm  'most  driven  wild  ; 

Would  you  shtep  here  a  moment,  ma'am,  please? 
For  the  sowl  of  me,  ma'am,  I  can't  ready  the  child 
While  he  keeps  up  such  doin's  as  these. 

"  I  might  better  be  curlin'  a  porkerpine  quill, 

Or  washin'  the  face  of  a  eel, 

Than  be  dressin'  of  him —  for  he  never  keeps  still 
'Less  I  howld  him  by  neck  an'  by  heel. 

"It's  three  blissed  times  since  I  put  on  his  clothes 

That  he 's  wriggled  stret  off  o'  the  chair ; 
Not  a  moment  ago  he  attack-ted  me  nose, 
And  it's  twice  he's  been  into  me  hair. 

"  If  ye  '11  credit  me,  ma'am,  wid   his   cryin'  an'  kickin', 
He's  brought  tears  to  my  eyes,  ma'am,  like  rain  — 
If  he  wasn't  so  bad,  ma'am,  I  would  n't  be  speakin', 
For  I  niver  was  one  to  complain." 

Thus  summoned,  I  went  to  the  nursery-door , 

There  sat  master  Johnny,  a-pout. 
And  I  said,  as  I  lifted  him  up  from  the  floor, 

"  Why,  Johnny,  what 's  all  this  about  ? " 

A  scream  was  his  answer.     His  flushed  little  face 
Looked  angrily  up  into  mine ; 


THE  NAUGHTY  BOY.  1/7 

'  Oo   hurt !  "      "  Do    I,  Johnny  ?      Where  ?  —  show  me 

the  place  ! " 
But  his  cry  only  changed  to  a  whine. 

In  a  moment,  I  found  out  the  cause  of  the  trouble  — 
'Twas  a  pin,  pricking  deep  in  his  side ; 

And    she,   in    her    roughness,   had    bent    the    thing 

double  — 
No  wonder  my  darling  had  cried  ! 

Poor  Johnny !     He  sobbed  on  my  shoulder  awhile, 

Then  held  up  his  face  to  be  kissed  ; 
(If  Betty  went  back  to  the  Emerald  Isle, 

I  know  where  she  would  n't  be  missed.) 

Soon,  meek  as  a  lamb  when  the  tempest  is  whirling, 
And  the  shepherd  is  deaf  to  his  bleat, 

Our  Johnny  submitted  to  washing  and  curling, 
Till  Betty  proclaimed  him  "  complete." 


In  "righting"  each  other, 
(As  Betty  would  say), 

If  we  find  there's  a  bother 
That  stands  in  the  way  — 

Perhaps  'twould  be  well, 
Before  crying,  "Sin," 

And  running  to  tell, 
To  look  for  the  pin! 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


LITTLE   MISS    LIMBERKIN. 

LITTLE  Miss  Limberkin, 

Dreadful  to  say, 
Found  a  mouse  in  the  cupboard 

Sleeping  away. 
Little  Miss  Limberkin 

Gave  such  a  scream, 
She  frightened  the  little  mouse 

Out  of  its  dream. 


THE  FROG.  179 


THE  FROG  WHO  WOULDN'T  A-WOOING   GO. 

YE  gentlemen  far,  and  gentlemen  near, 
And  ladies  fair,  and  children  dear, 
Come,  list  to  the  mournful  tale  —  heigho  !  — 
•Of  the  frog  who  wouldn't  a-wooing  go. 


Once  on  a  time,  when  nations  were  few, 
And  whether  the  world  stood  still  or  flew, 
Nobody  cared  and  nobody  knew, 

A  respectable  pair, 
By  name  of  Gluck, 

Lived  in  a  pool 

On  the  Isle  of  Muck. 
Oh !  very  blest  were  this  pair  of  frogs, 
Their  lot  was  cast  in  the  softest  of  bogs. 
Mrs.  Gluck  had  an  exquisite  voice, 

Their  sky  was  serenest, 

Their  puddle  the  greenest 
That  ever  bade  heart  of  a  froggy  rejoice. 


But  of  all  the  blessings  that  came  to  this  pair, 
Most  precious  of  all  was  a  son  and  heir, 
With  the  widest  of  mouths  and  the  loveliest  stare 
Their  brisk  little  polliwog, 

Hearty  and  hale  ; 
Their  own  little  frisky  one, 
All  head  and  tail! 


180  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

Ah !  never  were  parents  so  happy  as  these, 
Though    their   child,  to   be   sure,  wouldn't   sit   on 

their  knees. 
And  this,  let  me  say,  was  a  very  bad  sign, 

Though  they  didn't  perceive  it 

And  couldn't  conceive  it, 
For  it  proved  that  he  didn't  to  duty  incline. 

in. 

Well,  the   days   flew  along,  and   their   child  grew 

apace, 

Till  at  last  a  fine  form  came  to  balance  his  face  ; 
And  his  legs   grew  so   fast   they  seemed   running 
a  race. 

Completed  at  last, 

With  his  garment  of  green, 
Just  the  handsomest  froggy 

That  ever  was  seen, 

He  said  to  his  mother :  "  Now,  madam,  I'm  blown 
If —  ahem  !  I  should  say,  I  am  perfectly  grown  ; 
So  in  future  I  'd  wish  my  own  master  to  be, 
Though  I  thank  you  most  kindly 
For  loving  me  blindly." 
(Such  airs  in  a  youngster  were  dreadful  to  see !) 

IV. 

"  O    son,"    quoth    his    mother,  "  you    fill    me   with 

pain ! " 
And  she  sobbed   and    she   sighed  with   her  whole 

might  and  main, 
And  called  to  her  husband  in  desperate  strain. 


THE  FROG.  l8l 

•'  Pooh,  pooh !  "  said  old  Gluck, 

"  The  youngster  is  right, 
So  let  him  alone,   ma'am, 

Or  you  and  I  11  fight. 

And,  hark  ye,  my  son,  I  have  noticed  of  late 
Yon  puddle  attracts  you.     Tis  well.     Find  your  mate. 
The  Gungs,  as  a  family,  seem  to  adore  you. 
Select  your  own  waters, 
Take  one  of  the  daughters, 
And  leap  into  life  like  your  father  before   you." 

v. 

Alas  for  young  puddledum  !     Proudly  he  scouted 
The  sire's  good  advice.     He  sulked  and  he  pouted, 
And  the  Gung  girls,  in  turn,  every  one  of  them,  flouted. 
"  What,  choose  me  a  wife  ! 

Does  he  think  I'm  a  fool  ? 
No,  my  motto  for  life 

Is  :  one  frog  to  a   pool. 

Shall  I  yield  up  my  freedom  —  be  tied  to  a  log? 
Not  I,  by  my  jumps ! "  quoth  this  prig  of  a  frog. 
"Miss  Gung,  sir,  for  all  I'll  prevent,  gug-a-loo! 
May  sing  till  they  carry  me, 
'  No  one  will  marry  me, 
Nobody,  nobody 's  coming  to  woo  ! ' " 

VI. 

I  must  tell  you  ;  old  Gluck,  with  his  puddle  so  fair, 
Was  known  by  the  banks  as  mud-millionaire. 
So,  young   Gluck    (who   you   know,    was   his    first   son 
and  heir), 


1 82 


RHYMES  AND   JIXGLES. 


Soon  set  up  a  team 

Of  sleek  water-rats, 
And  covered  his  head 

With  the  brightest  of  hats  ; 
Then,  with  a.  phaetofi  and  footman  or  two, 
He  drove  forth  to  dazzle,  to  awe  and  subdue. 
Oh !  glum  was  his  face,  his  heart  icy  cold ! 


THE  FROG.  183 

And  the  seat  of  his  car, 

Though  too  wide  by  far 

For  one  single  frog,  not  another  would   hold. 


But  when  did  the  heartless,  disdainful,  and  flat 
Live  on,  unrebuked  by  this  world's  tit  for  tat? 
And  why  did  our  frog  trust  his  fate  to  a  rat  ? 

One  day,  as  he  drove, 

There  came  forth  to  stare  — 

Kingfisher  and  Duck  — 
A  most  comical  pair. 

The  first  was  the  proudest  that  ever  was  seen, 
For  the  rod  in  his  hand  was  the  gift  of  his  queen  ; 
But  the  other  —  ah !  never  did  duck  so  expand  ; 

Yet  strut  as  he  could, 

And  strain  as  he  would, 
Poor  Quack,  for  the  life  of  him,  could  n't  look  grand. 

VIII. 

Yet  he  took  it  amiss  that  his  efforts  were  lost 
To  thaw  with  his  splendor  that  armor  of  frost 
(For  our  frog  quite  disdained  any  duck  to  accost), 

And  loudly  he  shouted, 
"  Come  back,  sir,  come  back  ! 

You  're  spoiling  our  road 

With  your  zig-zagging  track, 

Come  back,  or  yon  man,  with  his  cat-o'-nine  tails, 
Will  be  after  your  team,  till  you  whistle  like  quails  — 
Great  Neptune  !  If  there  ain't  the  mischief  to  pay  ! 


1 84  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

Just  as  sure  as  I  waddle, 
Or  swim,  dive,  or  paddle, 
Those  rats  of  young  Gluck's  are  a-rurming  away  ! " 


Too    true.      They    had  heard  the  duck's    dreadful   ap- 
peal — 
A  cat  with  nine   tails !  why,  the    thought    made    them 

squeal. 

And  they  ran  for  their   holes,  with    poor   Gluck,  neck 
and  heel. 

But  whether  he  lived, 
Or  whether  he  died, 
Or  whether  the  rats 

Managed  safely  to  hide, 
Qr  whether  his  parents  e'er  saw  him  again, 
Or  whether  Miss  Gung  always  waited  in  vain, 
'Neath  her  lily-pads  green,  for  a  lover,  or  no, 
Are  things  that  belong 
To  the  rest  of  my  song 
Of  the  frog  who  would  n't  a-wooing  go. 


PART    SECOND. 


OH  !  moan,  ye  winds,  by  the  green  pool's  brink ! 
And"  quicklyr  ye  Clucks,  in  the  deep  mud  sink; 
Prepare  all  the  dregs  of  affliction .  to  drink  ! 


THE  FROG.  185 

The  pride  of  the  puddle, 
Breath  of  thy  breath, 

Lies  low  in  the  marshes, 

Fainting  to  death. 

Oh !  weep,  poor  Miss  Gung !  for  there  never   shall   be 
In  thy'  home  of  the  lilies  a  lover  for  thee. 
Thy  sun  goeth  down  with  never  a  glow, 

He  hath  frowned  on  thy  fate, 

On  thy  maiden  estate, 
And  the  one  whom  thou  lovest  is  lying  all  low ! 

ii. 

Ha !  what  is    this  coming  ?  what   wreck  do  they   spy  ? 
What  driverless  rat-steeds  are  these  rushing  by? 
"Our  child  !"  cried  the  mother;  "oh!  fly  to  him,  fly!" 

These  words  to  old  Gluck, 
And  that  mother  fell  dead; 

She  had  burst  with  her  grief. 

And  the   vital  spark  fled. 

Then  madly  in  search   leaped  that  father  bereft, 
And  wildly  those    goggle-eyes  peered    right    and    left ; 
Till  at  last,  where  the  bank  lay  a  little  aslant, 

He  saw  his  son  lying, 

Apparently  dying, 
For  all  he  could  do  was  to  quiver  and  pant. 

in. 

"  Oh  !  leap,  little  Eng "  (this,  Gluck  said  to  his  latest, 
A  froggy  half-grown),  "bring  of  doctors  the  greatest, 
And  look  to  thy  speed,  that  thou  never  abatest. 


1 86  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

Bring  Tightskin,  or  Squatt, 

Or  my  cousin  Paff-Puff ; 
But  don't  bring  them  all  — 

One  doctor's  enough. 

0  horror !  he  fails  !     Be  quick,  Eng,  be  quick  ! 

His  eye-balls  are  sinking!  his  breath's  growing  thick. 
Either  Tightskin  or  Squatt  will  be  better  than  Faff—  " 

But  Eng  never  heard, 

He  had  left  at  the  word, 
Bound,  of  course,  for   the   third  of  that   medical  staff. 

IV. 

"  Oh !  look  at  me,  son !     Oh !  lift  up  your  head ! 
And  don't  lie  so  limp,  for  you  fill  me  with  dread 
For  pity's  sake,  hear  me.  Your  mother  is  dead  ! " 
"Dead!"  gasped  Master  Gluck, 

"  And  I  lying  here  ?    . 
Oh  !  why  will  these  mothers 
Step  out  of  their  sphere  ? 
If  ever  I  needed  good  nursing  'tis  now, 
And  your   masculine    paw,  sir,  it   scratches  my    brow. 

1  need  some  one  gentle  —  more  gentle  than  air  — 

0  father!  I  fear 

1  am  injured  in  here." 

And  our  frog  pressed  his  heart  in  the  deepest  despair. 

v. 

"Now,  bear  up,  my  son,"  cried  the  sorrowing  Gluck. 
"  See  !  the  doctor  is  coming.  He  '11  bring  us  good  luck. 
By  my  croak !  but  it 's  Faff,  the  conceited  old  buck." 


THE  FROG. 


187 


Then,  quick  to  the  doctor, 

"  My  child  !  Is  he  killed  ? 
Oh!  save  me  my  son 

From  the  phaeton  spilled. 

Haste!  give  me  the  lotion  !    I'll  pour  it  on  here." 
"  No,    no,"    moaned    the    patient,  "  I    can't    have   him 

near, 

His  rubbing  is  torture.     I  'd  rather  be  hung. 
Dear  doctor,  he's  rough  — 
He 's  nursed  me  enough  — 
Oh!  send  little  Eng  for  that  oldest  Miss  Gung." 


1 88  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


Then  outspake  the  uncle,  with  wrath  in  his  face, 
And  a  grunt  of  denial  that  filled  all  the  place, 
'  No,  no,  Master  Gluck,  /'//  attend  to  your  case, 

Humph  !  nursing  indeed  ! 
You  Ve  called  me  too  late. 

In  less  than  an  hour,  sir, 

We  '11  lay  you  out  straight. 

No  Miss  Gung  shall  you  have.  Her  father's  my  friend. 
If  you  'd  done  as  you  ought  —  Never  mind.  I  intend 
To  have  all  my  sons,  cousin  Gluck,  marry  early. 

Had  my  patient  seen  fit 

To  wed,  I'll  admit 
He  might  have  been  saved,"  said  this  doctor  so  surly. 


And  then,  while  our  hero  lay  moaning  with  pain, 
And  his  father  kept  rubbing  and  fussing  in  vain, 
The  doctor  continued,  in  furious  strain, 
"  This  accident  —  humph  ! 

Cousin  Gluck,  on  my  word, 
With  a  family  team,  sir, 

Would  not  have  occurred. 

This  thinking  and  plotting  for  self  all  the  while, 
And  frisking  about,  sir,  in  bachelor  style, 
With  no  one  to  nurse  you  when  hurt,  sir,  don't   pay. 
"Good  doctor,"  moaned   froggy, 

"It  isn't  too  late, 
Even  now  she'd  consent 

To  soften  my  fate. 
Oh  Eng !  dear,  run  off  for  Miss  Gung,  right  away." 


THE  FROG.  189 

VIII. 

These  words  were  his  last.     He  never  moved  more, 
But  lay  through  the  starlight,  all  fainting  and  sore 
(And   those   weary  night-watchers,   how   rasping    their 
snore)  ! 

In  the  morning  they  found  him 

Stretched  out  stiff  and  stark  — 
He  had  died  all  alone 

In  the  cold  and  the  dark. 

The  chord  of  existence  had  snapt,  they  averred, 
In  trying  to  utter  one  sweet  little  word. 
And,  as  over  his  body  his  weeping  sire  hung, 
'Twas  plain  to  be  seen, 
From  that  mouth's  very  mien, 

That  the  last  mournful   sound  of  his   life  had   been  — 
Gung ! 

Oh !  gentlemen  far,  and  gentlemen   near, 
And  striplings  fair,  and  children  dear, 
Be  warned  by  the  mournful  tale,  heigho ! 
Of  the  frog  who  wouldn't  a-wooing  go. 


190 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  STUBBORN  BOOT. 

BOTHER  !  was  all  John  Clatterby  said. 
His  breath  came  quick,  and  his  cheek  was  red, 
He  flourished  his  elbows,  and   looked  absurd, 
While,  over  and  over,  his  "  Bother ! "  I  heard. 

Harder  and  harder  the  fellow  worked, 
Vainly  and  savagely  still   he  jerked  ; 
The  boot,  half  on,  would  dangle  and  flap  — 
"  Oh  bother  ! "  and  then  he  broke  the  strap. 


THE  STUBBORN  BOOT.  19 1 

Redder  than  ever  his  hot  cheek   flamed  ; 
Harder  than  ever  he  fumed  and  blamed  ; 
He  wriggled  his  heel,  and  tugged  at  the  leather 
Till  knees  and  chin  came  bumping  together. 

"  My  boy !  "  said  I,  in  a  voice  like  a  flute, 
"  Why  not  —  ahem  !  —  try  the  mate  of  that  boot ; 
Or  the  other  foot  ?"  —  "I'm  a  goose,"  laughed  John, 
As  he  stood,  in  a  flash,  with  his  two  boots  on- 

In  half  the  affairs 

Of  this  busy  life 
(As  that  same  day 

I  said  to  my  wife), 
Our  troubles  come 

From  trying  to  put 
The  left  hand  shoe 

On  the  right-hand  foot, 
Or  vice  versa 

(Meaning,  reverse,  sir). 
To  try  to  force, 

As  quite  of  course, 
Any  wrong  foot 

In  the  right  shoe, 
Is  the  silliest  thing 

A  man  can  do. 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

THE  LITTLE  DUTCHMAN. 

OH  I'm  a  little  Tuchman, 
My  name  is  Van  der  Dose, 

An'  vat  I  cannot  get  to  eat, 
I  smells  it  mit  my  nose. 

An'  ven  dey  vili  not  let  me  blay, 
I  takes  it  out  in  vork ; 


And  ven  dey  makes  me  vork  too  hard, 
I  soon  de  jop  will  shirk. 

An'  ven  dey  sends  me  off  to  ped, 

I  lays  avake  all  night ; 
An'  ven  dey  comes  to  vake  me  up, 

I  shuts  my  eyes  up  tight. 


A    BIRTHDAY.  193 

For  I'm    a    little   Tuchman, 

My  name  is  Van  der  Dose, 
An'  vat  I  do  not  know  myself, 

I  never  vants  to  knows. 


A  BIRTHDAY. 

OLD  man  with  the  hour-glass,  halt !  halt !  I  pray  — 
Don't  you  see  you  are  taking  my  children  away  ? 
My  own  little  babies  who  came  long  ago, 
You    stole   them,    old    man    with    the   beard   white  as 
snow ! 

My  beautiful  babies,  so  bonny  and  bright  ! 
Where  have  you  carried  them  far  out  of  sight  ? 
Oh,  dimpled  their  cheeks  were,  and  sunny  their  hair ! 
But  I  cannot  find  them  ;  I  've  searched  everywhere. 

My  three-year-old  toddlers,  they  shouted  in  glee  ; 
They  sported  about  me  ;  they  sat  on  my  knee. 
Oh,  their  prattle  and  laughter  were  silvery  rain  ! 
Old  man,  must  I  list  for  their  voices  in  vain  ? 

They   were   here  ;    they  were   gone  while    their   kisses 

were  warm. 
I  scarce  knew  the   hour  when   they    slipped    from  my 

arm  — 

Oh  !  where  was  I  looking  when  peerless    and  sweet, 
They  followed  the  track  of  your  echoless  feet  ? 


IQ4  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

My  brave  little    school-boys  who   ran  in  and  out, 
And  lifted  the  air  with  their  song  and  their  shout  ; 
My  boys  on  the  coldest  days  ever  aglow, 
My  dear,  romping  school-boys  who  bothered  me  so. 

There  were  two  of  them  then  ;  and  one  of  the  two  — 
Ah!  I  never  was  watchful  enough  —  followed  you. 
My  chubby-faced  darling,  my  kite-flying  pet  — 
Alack  !  all  his  playthings  are  lying  here  yet. 

And  the  other.     O  Time  !  do  not  take  him  away  ! 
For  a  few  precious  years,  I  implore,  let  him  stay. 
I  love  him  —  I  need  him — my  blessing  and  joy! 
You  have  had    all  the  rest :  leave    me  one   little  boy  ! 

He  halts  !  He  will  stop !  No  ;  the  fall  of  the  sand 

In    the    hour-glass     deceived    me.     It    seemed     at     a 

stand. 

But  whom  have  we  here  ?  Jamie  !  Harry  !  how  ?  why 
Just  as  many  as  ever  —  and  Time  passing  by  ? 

I  can  hardly  believe  it.     But  surely  it 's  clear 

My  babies,  my  toddlers,  my  school-boys  are  here  ! 

And  I  Ve    two    great    big    fellows    (one  lithe    and  one 

tall) 
Besides  all  the  rest  —  and  more  precious  than  all, 

Jamie,  my  bouncer,  my  man-boy,  my  pride  ! 
Harry,  my  sunbeam,  whatever  betide  ; 
Both  of  them,  all  of  them,  dozens  in  two  — 
Crowds  of  my  children  are  standing  in   view  ! 


A   BIRTHDAY.  IQ5 

Move  on,  then,  O  Time  !  I  have  nothing  to  say, 
You  have  left  me  far  more  than  you  Ve  taken  away. 
And  yet  I  would  whisper  a  word  ere  you  go  : 
You  've  a    year   of    my    Harry's  —  the    last   one,   you 
know  — 

How  does  it  rank  among  those  that  have  flown? 
Was  it  worthily  used  when  he  called  it  his  own  ? 
God  filled  it  with  happiness,  comfort,  and  health  — 
Did  my  darling  use  rightly  its  Love-given  wealth? 

No  answer  in  words.     Yet  it  really  did  seem 

That    the    sand    sparkled   lightly  —  the  scythe    sent    a 

gleam. 

Is  it  answer  and  promise  ?     God  grant  it  be  so, 
From  that  silent  old  man  with  the  beard  white  as  snow. 


196  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  PIG  AND  THE  LARK. 

A  PIG  scrambled  up  from  his  slumbers, 

And  grunted  with  rage  at  the  lark : 
"  Why  must  you  begin  your  loud  carol 
Before  we  are  out  of  the  dark  ? " 

"  Good  sir, "  said  the  lark,  as  he  flitted 
Right  gayly  from  blossom  to  bud, 

"  Look  up  to  the  sky  for   your  morning 
It  never  begins  in  the  mud  ! " 


THE  WELL-MEANING   FROG. 

'TWAS  a  lonely  bog, 
With   a  boy  and   frog 
On  the  marsh's  brink. 
'I'll  kill  him!"  cried    the   boy.     In    fact 
He  leaned  to  do  the  dreadful  act,  — 
When  lo  !  a  splash  ! 
And  in  a  flash 
Did  froggie   think  : 

"  Too  true 
He  meant  to  do 
Some  harm  to  me, 
But  then,  you  see 


THE  WELL-MEANING  FROG. 

To  mock  him  now  would  not  be  kind, 
Lest  he  should  drown. 
I  '11  just  go  down 
And  tickle  his   ears 
To  calm  his  fears 

And  let  him  know  that  I  didn't  mind. 


197 


Soon,  a  dripping,  sobbing,  muddy  boy 
Ran  home  across  that  lonesome  bog; 

While  placidly  smiling  on   the  shore 

Squatted  that  thoroughly  well-meaning  frog. 


199 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


THE  FROST-KING.  199 

THE  FROST-KING. 

OHO  !  have  you  seen  the  Frost-King, 

A-marching  up  the  hill  ? 
His  hoary  face  is  stern  and  pale, 

His  touch  is  icy  chill. 
He  sends  the  birdlings  to  the  South, 

He  bids  the  brooks  be  still; 
Yet  not  in  wrath  or  cruelty 

He  marches  up  the  hill. 

He  will  often  rest  at  noontime, 

To  see  the   sunbeams  play  ; 
And  flash  his  spears  of  icicles, 

Or  let  them  melt  away. 
He'll  toss  the  snow-flakes  in  the  air, 

Nor  let  them  go  nor  stay  ; 
Then  hold  his  breath  while  swift  they  fall, 

That  coasting  boys  may  play. 

He'll  touch  the  brooks  and  rivers  wide, 

That  skating  crowds  may  shout ; 
He'll  make  the  people  far  and  near 

Remember  he's  about. 
He'll  send  his  nimble,  frosty  Jack  — 

Without  a  shade  of  doubt  — 
To  do  all  kinds  of  merry  pranks, 

And  call  the  children  out  ; 

He  '11  sit  upon  the  whitened  fields, 
And  reach  his  icy  hand 


200  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

O  'er  houses  where  the  sudden  cold 

.  Folks  cannot  understand. 
The  very  moon,  that  ventures  forth 

From  clouds  so  soft  and  grand, 
Will  stare  to  see  the  stiffened  look 
That  settles  o'er  the  land. 

And  so  the  Frost-King  o'er  the  hills, 

And  o'er  the  startled  plain, 
Will  come  and  go  from  year  to  year 

Till  Earth  grows  young  again  — 
Till  Time  himself  shall  cease  to  be, 

Till  gone  are  hill  and  plain  : 
Whenever  Winter  comes  to  stay, 

The  hoary  King  shall  reign. 


AFTER    THE    U'lXTER. 


2O I 


AFTER  THE  WINTER. 

THE    summer   is   coming  — 

hurrah  ! 

Old  winter  has  gone  for  good. 
The  summer  is  coming  —  hurrah  !   hurrah  ! 
The  birdies  are  in  the  wood. 


The  chickens  are  coming  —  hurrah  ! 

Hear  how  the  old  hen  clucks  : 
The  chickens  are  coming  —  hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

And  the  queer  little  turkeys  and  ducks. 

The  tad-poles  are   coming  —  hurrah  ! 
With  their  comical,  wriggling  tails : 


202  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

The  tad-poles  are  coming — hurrah!  hurrah! 
Like  little  mites  of  whales. 


The  crickets  are  coming  —  hurrah! 

And  katydids  always  so  funny : 
And  fire-flies  too  —  hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

And  bumble-bees  laden  with  honey. 

The  ant-hills  are  coming —  hurrah  ! 

What  fun  to  see  them  rise  : 
The  ant-hills  are  coming  —  hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

They  're  growing  before  our  eyes. 


The  daisies  are  coming  —  hurrah! 

We  '11  weave  them  in  many  a  chain  : 
The  daisies  are  coming  —  hurrah!  hurrah 

The  daisies  are  coming  again ! 


AFTER   THE    WINTER.  203 

The  cherries  are  coming  —  hurrah  ! 

And  apples  and  peaches  and  plums : 
The  fruit  is  a-coming  —  hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

We'll  feast  on  it  when  it  comes. 

The  swallows  are  coming — hurrah! 

There  '11  be  lots  of  birds  in  the  sky ; 
The  swallows  are  coming  —  hurrah!  hurrah! 

We'll  whoop  at  them  as  they  fly. 

The  corn-fields  are  coming  —  hurrah  ! 

So  green  and  waving  and  high : 
The  corn-fields  are  coming — hurrah!  hurrah! 

We  '11  hide  in  them  by-and-by. 

The  summer  is  coming  —  hurrah  ! 

We  can  bathe  and  swim  and  dive  : 
The  summer  is  coming  —  hurrah!  hurrah! 

Oh  !  it 's  jolly  to  be  alive  ! 

It 's  jolly  to  live  —  hurrah  ! 

Let  us  all  be  good  and  glad  : 
It 's  the  grandest  world  —  hurrah  !    hurrah  ! 

That  ever  we  children  have  had. 


204 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


LITTLE  WHIMPY. 

WHIMPY,  little  Whimpy 

Cried  so  hard  one  day, 
His  Grandma  couldn't  stand  it, 

And  his  mother  ran  away; 
His  sister  climbed  the  hay-mow, 

His  father  went  to  town, 
And  cook  flew  to  the  neighbor's, 

In  her  shabby,  kitchen  gown. 


Whimpy,  little  Whimpy 
Stood  out  in  the  sun 


LITTLE    WHIMPY.  205 

And  cried  until  the  chickens 

And  ducks  began  to  run  ; 
Old  Towser  in  his  kennel 

Growled  in  an  angry  tone  ; 
Then  burst  his  chain,  and  Whimpy 

Was  left  there,  all  alone. 

Whimpy,  little  Whimpy 

Cried,  and  cried,  and  cried  ; 
Soon  the  sunlight  vanished, 

Flowers  began  to  hide, 
Birdies  ceased  their  singing, 

Frogs  began  to  croak, 
Darkness  came;  and  Whimpy 

Found  crying  was  no  joke. 

Whimpy,  little  Whimpy, 

Never '11  forget  the  day 
When  his  Grandma  could  n't  stand  it, 

And  his  mother  ran  away  ; 
He  was  waiting  by  the  window 

When  they  all  came  home  to  tea  — 
And  a  gladder   boy  than  Whimpy 

You  never  need  hope  to  see. 


206  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


NIGHT  AND   DAY. 

When  I  run  about  all  day, 
When  I  kneel  at  night  to  pray, 
God  sees. 

When  I  'm  dreaming  in  the  dark, 
When  I  lie  awake  and  hark, 
God  sees. 

Need  I  ever  know  a  fear  ? 
Night  and  day  my  Father's  near 
God  sees. 


AT  THE  WINDOW. 

IN  and  out,  in  and  out, 
Through  the  clouds  heaped  about, 
Wanders  the  bright  moon. 

What  she  seeks,  I  do  not  know  ; 
Where  it  is,  I  cannot  show. 

I  am  but  a  little  child, 

And  the  night  is  strange  and  wild. 


AT  THE    WINDOW. 


207 


In  and  out,  in  and  out, 
Wanders  the  bright  moon  ; 

In  and  out,  in  and  out, 
She  will  find  it  soon. 

There  she  comes  !  as  clear  as  day,  — 
Now  the  clouds  are  going  away. 
She  is  smiling,  I  can  see, 
And  she's  looking  straight  at  me. 

Pretty  moon,  so  bright  and  round, 
Wont  you  tell  me  what  you  found  ? 


208 


RHVAfES  AND  JIXGLES 


OUT  OF   THE   SHELL. 

WELL,  I  'm  out,  after  all ! 

And  I  '11  say,  on  my  word, 
That's  a  pretty  mean  house 

For  a  duck  of  a  bird  ! 


Why,  I  could  n't  stand  up, 
And  I  could  n't  sit  down, 

But  I  lay  in  a  cramp 

From   my  toes  to  my  crown. 

My  good  mammy  and  dad 

May  have  thought  me  a  spoon, 

But  they'll  not  get  me  back 
In  that  thing  very  soon. 


BABY  NELL. 


209 


BEES  in  the  manger — 

Poor  Dobbin  's  nose  ! 
Boys  in  the  garden  ;  — 

Hide,  pretty  rose  ! 
Cats  in  the  dairy  — 

Woe  to  the  cream  ! 
Spiders  on  the   ceiling - 

Hear  Mollie  scream ! 


BABY  NELL. 


BABY  NELL  had  ten  little  toes, 
Baby  Nell  had  two  little  hose, 
.She  always  stared  when  the  hose  went  on, 
And  thought  her  ten  little  toes  were  gone. 
14 


210  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


LEMONS  for  Molly ; 

Molly  is  sour. 
Roses  for  Polly  ; 

Polly's  a  flower. 
Ginger  for  Willie  ; 

Willie  is  quick. 
Powders  for  Tillie  ; 

Tillie  is  sick. 


,  JAMIE'S   TROUBLES. 

MAMMA,  what  's  zis  on  my  ap'on  ? 

Nassy  ap'on  make  me  ky  ; 
Naughty  ap'on  awfu'  'ticky  — 

Puttin'  'lasses  in  my  eye. 

Go    'way,  B'idget !  P'ease  don't  wass  me 
(Don't  want  on  no  pooty  d'esses), 

Dim  me  nudder  piece  of  tandy, . 
Den  I  be  oor  'ittle  pres-sus. 

Mamma,  see,  zis  naughty  soo-string 
Make  poor  Damie  tumble  down, 

It 's  all  b'oke  —  I  want  my  Pop-pa 
Buy  me  nudder,  'way  down  town. 


JEAN  AND  KITTY.  211 

Mamma,  see  zis  funny  tup  ! 

Damie  hit  it  wiz  his  hammer. 
Dess  it's  b'oke.     Don't  yip  me,  Mamma, 

If  oo  do,  I  tell  my  Damma. 

Mamma,  dess  I  dettin  s'eepy  ; 

Don't  make  Damie  tate  a  nap ; 
Tell  me  pooty  'tory,  Mamma  — 

Tate  poor  Damie  on  oor  lap. 

Pooty  Mamma,  b'essed  Mamma  — 
(Want  a  d'ink  out  Damie's  mug?) 

O  dat  button  hurt  me  dreffel ! 

Dat  's  yight,  Mamma  —  dim  me  hug ! 


JEAN   AND   KITTY. 

How  did  they  learn  that  their  ways  were  small  ? 

Jean  and  Kitty  — 
How  did  they  know  they  were  scorned  by  all  ? 

Jean  and  Kitty. 

Why,  they  listened  one  day,  at  a  neighbor's  blinds, 
And  heard  the  family  speak  their  minds  — 

What  a  pity! 


212  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


DOGGIE'S  TRICKS. 

WHAT  's  this  coming  ?  Baby,  hark  ! 

It 's  the  doggie  —  hear  him  bark  — 
Bow,  wow,  wow,  wow  — 
Don't  you  frighten  Baby  now! 

Pussy  hears  him.     See  her  hide, 
Now  her  eyes  are  open  wide : 

Meouw,  Meouw  —  sptisss,  sptisss  ! 

Oh  how  angry  pussy  is  ! 

Go  'way,  doggie  —  run  off,  quick; 
Moonie  cow  has  found  your  stick  — 

Moo,  moo,  moo,  moo  ; 

Moonie  cow  is  calling  you. 

Now  he 's  off.     He  's  in  the  yard, 
All  the  sheep  are  running  hard. 

Ba-a,  ba-a,  ba-a,  ba-a! 

(What  a  naughty  dog  you  are !) 

Up,  old  rooster !  doggie 's  coming  ; 

He  will  catch  you  —  see  him  running ! 
Ech-ka  cock-a-doodle  doo  — 
Go  'way,  dog  !     Who  cares   for  you  ? 

Now  he  's  at  the  ducks  —  O  look  ! 
See  them  waddle  to  the  brook. 


DOGGIE'S   TRICKS. 

Quack  !  quack !  quack  !  quack  ! 
Doggie  cannot  drive  them  back. 

Turkey  gobbler,  chase  him  now; 
Chase  him,  turkeys  !     Bow,  wow,  wow  ! 

Gobble,  gobble,  gobble,  gobble  ! 

Bow,  wow,  wow  —  gobble,  gobble  ! 


213 


Sting  him,  bees  !     The  naughty  doggie  ! 
Jump  upon  him,  great  big  froggie  ! 

Buzz,  buzz,  gluck,  gluck  : 

Now,  old  doggie,  where  's  your  pluck  ? 

There,  they  've  bothered  you  enough  — 
And  you're  sorry,  poor  old  Buff? 
Bow,  wow,  wow,  wow, 
Come  and  play  with  Baby  now. 


214  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


A   SONG   FOR   BERTIE. 

BABY  BUFFETTY  met  a  cow  — 

Moo,  moo  !     How  d'  ye  do  ? 
Baby  Buffetty  made  a  bow — 

Moo,  moo  !     How  d'  ye  do  ? 
Baby  Buffetty  met  a  sheep  — 

Baa,  baa  !     How 's  your  ma  ? 
Baby  Buffetty  gave  a  leap  — 

Baa,  baa  !     How 's  your  ma  ? 
Baby  Buffetty  met  a  lion  — 

Roar,  G-r-r-rooo!     Go  away  ! 
Baby  Buffetty  ran  off  crying, 

Roar,  G-r-r-rooo  !     Go  away  ! 


A  COMMON    MISTAKE. 

THE  wisest  thing 

For  any  man, 
Is  to  get  from  others 

All  he  can. 
The  meanest  thing 

A  man  can  do. 
Is  to  get  his  gains 

From  me  or  you. 


LITTLE  ^[L\XrE   STOIVE. 


215 


LITTLE     MINNIE     STOWE. 


THE  fairest  and  the    merriest, 
The  kindest  girl  I  know, 

The  brightest  and  the  cheeriest. 
Is  little  Minnie  Stovve. 


Little  Minnie  Stowe  it  is  — 
Little  Minnie  Stowe  ; 

I  '11  marry  her  when  I  am  big 
The  sweetest  girl  I  know  ! 


2l6  RHYMES  AND   JIXGLES. 


LETTING  THE  OLD  CAT   DIE. 

NOT  long  ago,  I  wandered  near 

A  play-ground   in  the  wood, 
And  there  heard  a  thing  from  youthful  lips 

That  I  Ve  never  understood  : 

"Now  let  the  old  cat  die!"  he  laughed  ; 

I  saw  him  give  a  push, 
Then  gayly  scamper  away  as  he  spied 

My  face  peep  over  the  bush. 

But  what  he  pushed,  or  where  it  went, 

I  could  not  well  make  out, 
On  account  of  the  thicket  of 'bending  boughs 

That  bordered  the  place  about. 

"  The  little  villain  has  stoned  a  cat, 

Or  hung  it  upon  a  limb, 
And  left  it  to  die  all  alone,"  I  said  ; 
"  But  I  '11  play  the  mischief  with  him" 

I  forced  my  way  between  the  boughs, 

The  poor  old  cat  to  seek, 
And  what  did    I   find  but  a  swinging  child. 

With  her  bright  hair  brushing  her  cheek.  ' 

Her  bright  hair  floated  to  and  fro, 
Her  red  little  dress  flashed  by, 


LETTING    THE   OLD   CAT  DIE.  217 


218  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

But  the  liveliest  thing  of  all,   I  thought, 
Was  the  gleam  of  her  laughing  eye. 

Swinging  and  swaying  back  and  forth, 

With  the  rose-light  in  her  face, 
She  seemed  like  a  bird  and  a  flower  in  one, 

And  the  wood  her  native  place. 

"Steady!  I'll  send  you  up,  my  child," 

But  she  stopped  me  with  a  cry : 
"  Go  'way  !  go  'way  !     Don't  touch  me,  please  — 

I  'm  letting  the  old  cat  die  ! " 

"  Y0u,  letting  him  die  ?  "  I  cried,  aghast ; 
"Why,  where  is  the    cat,  my  dear?" 
And  lo  !  the  laughter  that  filled  the  woods 
Was  a  thing  for  the  birds  to  hear. 

"  Why,  don't  you  know,"  said  the  little  maid, 

The  flitting,  beautiful  elf, 
"That  we  call  it  'letting  the  old  cat  die' 

When  the  swing  stops  all  itself?  " 

Then  floating  and  swinging,  and  looking  back 

With  merriment  in  her  eye, 
She  bade  me  "good-day,"  and  I  left  her  alone, 

A-letting  the  old  cat  die. 


WHAT  SHALL  WE  TAKE  TO  BOSTON. 


2I9 


WHAT  shall  we  take  to  Boston  ? 
Tell  me,  my  baby,  pray, 
We  must  take  our  eyes  to  see  with, 
And  take  our  ears  to  hear  with, 
And  take  our  feet  to  run  with, 
And  take  our  arms  to  hug  with, 

And  a  how  d'  ye  do  ? 

How  do  you  do  ? 
And  how  are  you  all  to-day  ? 


220 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


WASHING-DAY. 

WHILE  mother  is  tending  baby, 

We'll  help  her  all  we  can, 
For  I'm  her  little  toddlekins, 

And  you're  her  little  man. 
And  Nell  will  bring  the  basket, 

For  she  's  the  biggest  daughter, 
And  I'll  keep  rubbing,  rubbing, 

And  you'll  pour  in  the  water  — 


WA  SHING-DA  Y.  221 

And  now  we'll  have  to  hurry 

Because  it's  getting  late  — 
Poor  dolly  is  n't  dressed  yet, 

But  dolly '11  have  to  wait. 
I  '11  pour,  and  you  can  rub  'em, 

Whichever  you  had  rather — 
But  seems  to  me,  if  I  keep  on," 

We'll  get  a  quicker  lather. 
Maybe,  when  mother  sees  us 

Takin'  so  much  troubles, 
She'll  let  us  put  our  pipes  in 

And  blow  it  full  of  bubbles  : 
But  now  we  '11  have  to  hurry, 

Because  it's  getting  late  — 
And  dolly  isn't  dressed  yet, 

But  dolly  '11  have  to  wait. 


222  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


TROTTY  MALONE. 

BOYS  and  girls,  come  riddle  and  ravel, 
Tell  us  how  you  would  like  to  travel. 

Crispy,  crackly,  snow  and  tingle, 
"  Give  me  sleighs  ! "  said  Jenny  Jingle. 

Stony,  bumpty,  bang  and  bolter, 
"  Give  me  carts  ! "  said  Johnny  Jolter. 

Slidy,  glidy,  jerky  whiff-ter, 
"  Give  me  cars  ! "  cried  Sally  Swifter. 

Flipetty,  cricketty,  elegant  go, 
"  Give  me  a  buggy !  "  said  Benjamin  Beau. 

"  A  fig  for  them  all ! "  cried  Trotty  Malone, 
"  Give  me  a  stout  pair  of  legs  of  my  own  ! ' 


DON'T  trust  Chatter,  who  whispers  low, 
And  tells  you  stories  of  Prue  and  Joe. 
Be  sure  when  he  whispers  to  Joe  and  Prue, 
He  '11  tell  them  many  a  tale  of  you. 


RED  AND    WHITE.  223 


RED  AND  WHITE. 

ONCE  on  a  still  December  night, 

In   the  freezing,  wintry  weather, 
Two  little  stockings,  red  and  white, 

Were  softly  talking  together. 

Firelight  flashed  in  the  darkened  room, 
Shadows  were  sliding  and  creeping 

Over  the  beds  where,  half  in  the  gloom, 
Two  little  children  were  sleeping. 

1  Hark  ye!"  said  White  in  a  whisper  low, 

"I  fancy,  Red,  by  your  bulging  so, 
You  come  from  some  plump  little  baby-leg  — 
If  I  'm  mistaken,  your  pardon  I  beg." 

That's  so,"  said  Red,  "for  she  kicked  me  off 
This  very  day  (and  she  '11  have  a  cough, 

As  sure  as  I  'm  knit,  for    her  careless  ways  — 
A  cough  that    may  trouble  her  all  her  days). 

'But  you?     Ah!  you  look  so  fair  and  trim, 

You  came  from  some  little  royal  limb, 
With  your  dainty  heading  of  daisy  pink  — 
At  least  so  an  humble  sock  would  think." 

'  Hoho  ! "  said  White.     "Don't  you  know  me,  Red  ? 

Why,  there 's  my  owner  in  yonder  bed  — 
Yours  in  the  cradle  and  mine  in  the  crib; 
And  mine  is  the  bigger,  or  else  I  fib. 


224  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

"  But  bless  me,  Red,  I  care  not  a  fig, 

Though  yours  be  little  and  mine  be  big  ; 
Soon  shall  we  hang  in  equal  pride 
From  yonder  mantel  side  by  side. 

"  Down  the  chimney  a  figure  will  bound  — 

Old  Saint  Nicholas,  funny  and  round ; 
And,  stuffing  as  though  he  never  would  stop, 
He  '11  fill  us  with  good  things  up  to  the  top." 

"  Hurrah  ! "  cried  Red,  "  and  well  for  me 

That  I  bulge  in  the  ankle  and  foot,  you  see." 

"And  well  for  me,"  said  White,  "that  I, 

Though  narrow  and  slim,  am  long  and  high. 

"  But,  Red,  after  all,  we  need  n't  care, 

Though  in  shape  and  room  we  're  not  a  pair  ; 
For  the  cradle  and  crib  hold  sisters,  you  see, 
And  the  crib  will  give  to  the  cradle  from  me. 

"If  I  hold  more  and  you  hold  less, 

The  babies  '11  make  it  even,  I  guess." 

"That's  so,"  said  Red,  "but  I  quite  despair 

When  you  hang  so  grand    on    the    back  of  a 
chair." 

"  Pooh,  pooh  !  "  said  White,  "  don't  think  of  that  — 

Think  of  the  hours  that  I  'm  folded  flat ; 
And     how    often,    when     shoe-pegs     pierce     me 

through, 
I  long  to  be  woolen  and  thick  like  you." 


RED  AND    WHITE. 

That's  so,"  said  Red — 'twas  his  pet  reply — 
"  But  then  I  take  so  long  to  dry ! 

It 's  very  unpleasant  to  be  so  thick  — 
Besides,  I  'm  just  as  red  as  a  brick." 

My  friend,"  said  White,  with  an  anxious  sigh, 
How  quickly  your  troubles  multiply  ! 

I  really  think"  (here  he  gave  a  cough) 

"  It  affects  your  spirits  —  to  be  kicked  off." 


225 


1  That 's  so,"  said  Red  again  —  "I  feel 

Just  good  for  nothing  from  toe  to  heel. 
She  kicks  me  off,  till  I  'm  almost  dead, 
I  'd  die  of  the  blues  if  I  was  n't  so  red." 

Come,  neighbor,  cheer  up  !  "  said  White  in  distress 
"  We  're  only  stockings,  I  must  confess  ; 
15 


226  RHYMES  A.VD    JfXGLES. 

Yet  we  suit  the  feet  that  are  wearing  us  out, 
So  there  really  is  nothing  to  worry  about. 

"The  worst  that  stockings  or  children  can  do 

Is  to  hold  the  dark  side  always  in  view. 
This  fretting  and  fussing,  dear  Red,  is  shocking. 
I  know  it  is  ;  though  I  'm  only  a  stocking. 

"And  think  how  grand  it  will  be,  dear  Red  — 

Or  how  glad  we  shall  feel,  I  should  have  said- 
When  on  Christmas  morning,  after  their  sleep, 
Our  dear  little  owners  into  us  peep." 

"  That 's  so  !  "  cried  the  other.     "  Away  with  folly, 
For  the  rest  of  my  days  I  mean  to  be  jolly. 
She  may  kick  me  off — the  dear  little  tot  — 
Whenever  she  pleases ;  I  '11  mind  it  not. 

"  Christmas  is  coming  !  that  's  so  !  that 's  so  ! 

And  then  I'll  be  somebody — won't   I,  though? 
By  the  way,  old  White,  I  wish  it  were  day, 
So  she  'd  put  me  on,  and  frolic  and  play." 

White  laughed  with  joy,  and  said,  "All  right. 

You  Ve  come  to  your  senses  now.     Good-night. 
And  so  all  quiet  and  peaceful  they  lay 

Till  the  children  awoke  at  break  of  day. 


THE    THIRD    OF  JULY.  22/ 


THE  THIRD  OF  JULY. 

HA,  ha !  little  toddlekins  —  cash  did  you  say  ? 

You  shall  have  it,  my  boys. 

For  racket  and  noise, 

Crackers  and  powder, 

Louder  and  louder, 
Shall  bang  and  resound  on  the  glorious  day! 

Here's  a  dollar  for  Johnny,  a  dollar  for  Paul. 

And  you,  little  Dick, 

Come  to  father  my  chick  ! 

Now  that 's  for  a  pack, 

And  that  's  for  a  pack, 
And  that 's  for  torpedoes  and  snappers  and  all ! 

Now  Robbie  and  Willie, — you  boys  with  "real"  pockets; 

Ha,  ha !  I  declare. 

Shall  I  put  it  in  there? 

Hear  it  dropping,  co-chunk! 

What !  you  want  more  for  punk  ? 
Here  it  is.     And  /'//  see  to  the  pin-wheels  and  rockets. 

Of  course,  you  all  know  of  the  great  Declaration 

That  made  us  as  free 

As  a  country  could  be. 

On  that  glorious  Fourth, 

East,  West,  South,  and  North 
Were  proclaimed  a  United  American  Nation  ! 


228 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


How  our  forefathers  bled, —  they,  the  mighty  and  wroth! 

To  make  us  all   free, — 

Yes,  you,  boys,  and  me. 

Though  you  can't  understand 

How  they  wrestled  and  planned, 
You  can  honor  them,  boys,  and  remember  the  Fourth. 

Be  off  with  your  money  !    To-morrow  's  the  word  ! 

Hold,  Johnny,  here  's  more 

To  divide  'twixt  you  four. 

And  Dick,  here  's  a  dime, — 

Hurrah  !     What  a  time ! 
We  '11  have  such  a  racket  as  never  was  heard  ! 


WHEN  I  AM  BIG."  229 


WHEN  I  am   big,  I  mean  to  buy 
A  dozen  platters  of  pumpkin-pie, 

A  barrel  of  nuts,  to  have  'em  handy, 
And  fifty  pounds  of  sugar-candy. 

When  I  am  big,  I  mean  to  wear 

A  long-tailed  coat,  and  crop  my  hair; 

I  '11  buy  a  paper,  and  read  the  news, 
And  sit  up  late  whenever  I  choose. 


WIND  for  the  tree-top,  sun  for  the  spear  ; 
Johnny  will  be  a  big  boy  in  a  year. 
When  he  is  big  he  can  battle  the  storm  ; 
While  he   is   little,  we  '11  wrap  him  up  warm. 


"  HERE  's  plenty  of  shells  and  clay  and  water, 
Make  me  some  nice  mud-pies,  my  daughter." 

"  Oh  !  yes,  mamma  —  and  the  sun  is  hot, 
I  can  heat  my  oven  as  well  as  not. 
If  you  will  take,  why,  I  will  make  — 
Pit  'em  and  pat  'em  and  set  'em  to  bake." 


230  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


LITTLE   BELL   DREER  AND   THE   DISH- 
COVER. 

0  MAMMA  !  look,  cried  little  Bell  Dreer ; 
There 's  a  girl  in  the  cover  like  me  ; 

And  whenever  I  move  she  looks  so  queer ; 
It 's  so  funny  —  I  never  did  see ! 

Why,  she  makes  a  face  if  I  turn  my  cheek  ; 

She  makes  a  face  if  I  wink. 
Oh  !  her  hair  runs  off,  and  she  tries  to  speak 

Why,  she 's  frightened  at  me,  I  think ! 

Come  out  little  girl,  and  see  my  doll  ; 
Come  out  of  the  shine  and  play. 

1  haven't  a  bit  of  a  sister  at  all, 
And  my  dolly  is  sick  to-day. 

My  dolly  is  sick,  and  my  book  is  torn, 
And  my  hair  has  got  to  be    curled  ; 

And  mother  is  reading.     It 's  real  forlorn 
To  be  all  alone  in  the  world. 

Come  out,  little  girl.     Oh !  I  wish  you  would. 

[You  must  11 1  make  faces  that  way.] 
I  'd  lift  you  out  of  the  shine  if  I  could, 

And  play  with  you  all  the  whole  day. 


LITTLE  BELL   DREER. 


231 


"COME  OUT,  LITTLE  GIRL.'; 


232 


RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


MASTER  TREMBLE'S  ADVENTURE. 

As  soon  as  I  take  my  degree 

As  a  classical  scholar  perfected, 
No  sharp  politician  I  '11  be, 

Asking  favors  of  all  the  elected. 
No  learned  profession  my  plan, 

Nor  trade,  till  my  courage  is  blunter 
For  surely,  deny  it  who  can  ? 

The  greatest  of  men  is  the  hunter ! 


There's  Cummings  the  bold  lion-tamer, 
And  fearless,  undaunted  Gerard, 

And  Baldwin,  by  tigers  made  lamer, 
And  Speke  with  his  camclopard. 


MASTER  TREMBLERS  ADVP2NTURE.  233 

And  one  of  those  days  't  will  be  Tremble,  — 
Most  famous  of  all,  I  '11  be  bound,  — 

The  great  lion-crusher,  young  Tremble, 
None  equal  to  him  the  world  round. 

Already,  I  've  tested  my  mettle  : 

No  cat  but  will  flee  at  my  tread  ; 
And  let  a  mosquito  but  settle 

And  pip  me  —  that  instant  he's  dead! 
Know  also  that  only  this  morning 

A  terrible  peril  I  met, 
While  taking  a  ramble — no  warning  — 

(That  hour  shall  I  ever  forget  ?) 

I  was  longing  at  heart  for  a  rifle, 

And  a  chance  for  some  wonderful  shot 
(A  lion  seemed  then  a  mere  trifle, 

I  would  rather  encounter  than  not), 
When,  presto  !  a  horrible  creature 

Came  buzzing  and  diving  at  me, 
Aiming  straight  at  my  favorite  feature  — 

A  horrible,  black  bumble-bee! 

A  horrible  black  humble  bumble, 

Bound  straight  for  my  beautiful  nose ; 
For  an  instant  (I  '11  own)  I  did  tumble, 

But  quickly  in  majesty  rose. 
Each  childish  emotion  I  swallowed, 

Moving  onward  as  fast  as  I  could  ; 
The  great  buzzing  monster,  he  followed 

Till  we  came  to  a   shadowy  wood. 


234  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

Ha !  what  was   that  sharp  thrill  of  anguish, 

And  what  the  great  swelling  that  came  ? 
And  why  was  I  rushing  and   shouting  — 

The  whole  of  my  face  in  a  flame  ? 
I  knew  that  the  buzzing  was  louder, 

That  my  nose  was  as  big  as   my  head  ; 
I  wanted  to  grind  him  to  powder  ; 

I  wished  him  a  thousand  times  dead  ! 

Blind  battle !  my  ev'ry-day  jacket 

Was  tighter  than  steel  coat  of  mail, 
And  the  monster  kept  up  such  a  racket, 

I  scarce  knew  his  head  from  his  tail. 
He,  plunging  and  wheeling  and  darting 

And  pitching  and  screeching  at  me  ; 
I,  maddened  with  burning  and  smarting  — 

What  wonder  I  dodged  by  a  tree  ! 

What  wonder  that  soon,  in  his  frenzy, 
My  murderous  foe  bumped  his  head  ! 

The  tree  never  tumbled  nor  tottered, 
But  he  fell  co-chunk  in  its  stead. 

Then  I  turned,  in  a  terrible  passion, 
•  And  stamped  with  my  full  might  and  main 

I  stamped  in  the  sledge-hammer  fashion,  — 
My  bee  never  bumbled  again ! 

Then  why  should  I  not  be  a  hunter, 
So  gallant  and  fearless  and  spry  ? 

What  other  vocation  would  answer 
For  such  a  brave  fellow  as  I  ? 


HARK!  MY  CHILDREN.  235 

Ah !  woe  to  the  beasts  of  the  forest ! 

And  woe  to  all  monsters  with  wings  ! 
As  soon  as  my  studies  are  over, 

I  mean  to  do  terrible  things. 


HARK  !  hark  !  O  my  children,  hark  ! 

When  the  sky  has  lost  its  blue 
What  do  the  stars  sing  in  the  dark  ? 

"  We  must  sparkle,  sparkle,  through." 

What  do  leaves  say  in  the  storm, 

Tossed  in  whispering  heaps,  together  ? 
"We  can  keep  the  violets  warm 

'Till  they  wake  in  fairer  weather." 

What  do  happy  birdies  say, 

Flitting  through  the  gloomy  wood  ? 
"We  must  sing  the  gloom  away  — 
Sun  or  shadow,  God  is  good." 


236 


RHYMES  AXD   JIXGLES. 


/// 


THE  KITTEN    PICTURE. 

Two  little  sisters,  one  little  brother, 
Five  little  kittens,  and  one  cat  mother. 
One  little  kit  is  tossed  up  overhead, 
One  little  kit  is  put  upon  the  bed  ; 
One  very  little  cat,  solemn  as  a  fish, 
One  great  big  cat  is  feeding  from  a  dish. 
Two  little  kitty-kits  seated  on  the  floor, 
Each  little  kitty-kit  washing  his  own  paw. 


THE  KITTEN  PICTURE.  237 

One  little  pig-tail.     Now,  where  is  that  ? 
One  little  crown-piece  ;  cap,  is  it,  or  hat  ? 
Four  little  blue  eyes,  and  three  little  chicks  ; 
Five  little  kittens  full  of  pretty  tricks. 
Kitty-kits,  pig-tail,  blue  eyes,  and  bed  ; 
Chicks,  cat,  and  crown-piece  top  of  baby's  head  ; 
Dish,  tricks,  and  downy  paws  being  licked  so  clean, 
All,  in  the  picture,  are  plainly  to  be  seen. 


SOME  are  starving,  some  are  filling, 
Some  are  lazy,  and  some  are  willing, 
Some  are  frowzy,  and  others  are  curled 
It  takes  all  kinds,  sir,  to  make  a  world. 


238  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


THE  TERRIBLE   BALL. 

GIVE  me  your  ear,  good  children  all, 

I  'm  going  to  set  up  a  terrible  ball  — 

A  terrible  ball  that  began  to  grow 

From  only  the  least  little  speckle  of  snow. 

And,  to  make  the  lesson  pointed  and  plain, 

I  '11  just  remark  that  life,  in  the  main, 

Is,  etcet'ra  —  you  know  ;  and  I  hope  you  '11  be  good 

In  future  to  show  that  you  've  understood. 


Three  lovely,  little  artless  boys, 

All  of  them  being  mothers'  joys, 

One  day  decided,  in  innocent  mirth, 

To  make  a  snow-ball  as  big  as  the  earth. 

What  makes  the  story  more  touching   still, 

The  big-eyed  school-house  on  the  hill 


THE    TERRIBLE  BALL. 


239 


Was  in  session,  under  the  cross  Miss  Stookey, 
And  these  little  boys  were  "  playing  hookey." 


Hookey  from  Stookey,  they  worked  with  a  will, 

And,  from  making  a  ball  like  *a  tiny  pill, 

They  rolled  and  rolled,  till,  no  longer  small, 

'Twas  big  as  Miss  Stookey's  waterfall. 

Then,  like  a  pumpkin  fair  and  round, 

They  kept  it  rolling  on  the  ground  — 

Bigger,  bigger,  bigger,  bigger, 

Bigger,  bigger,  bigger,  bigger  ! 

The  boys  could  hardly  push  it  along, 

It  grew  so  mighty  stout  and  strong. 

Now,  this  mammoth  ball  that  began  as  a  pill, 
Was  made,  you  must  know,  on  top  of  a  hill ; 
This  hill  was  so  wonderful  steep  and  high, 
That  even  the  coasters  would  pass  it  by  ; 


240 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


And,  saving  a  road  by  the  cattle  made, 
It  sloped  right  down,  at  a  fearful  grade, 
To  the  meadow  where  stood  a  cottage  red 
Where  these  little  children  were  born  and  bred. 

'  Halloo  ! "  they  cried,  "  let 's  have  some  fun, 
There 's  'Stookey  's  pig  as  sure  as  a  gun !  " 

'  Hooray  !  hooray  !  "  cried  the  children  three, 
Thus  giving  vent  to  their  youthful  glee. 
When  —  what  do  you  think?  —  this  ungrateful  pill, 
That  they  'd  made  so  big  on  top  of  the  hill, 
With  an  air  that  said,  "  Now,  I  think  I  Ve  got  'em  ! ' 
Resolved  to  roll  all  the  way  to  the  bottom. 

The  ball  was  swift,  the  ball  was  big, 
Alas  for  Stookey's  innocent  pig  ! 
Alas  for  lovers  who  walked  that  way, 
They  ne'er  in  their*  lives  forgot  the  day  ! 


THE    TEKKIlil.E   BALL.  241 

Alas  for  the  learn'd  Professor  Gath 

Who  happened  to  stroll  in  the  snow-ball's  path  ! 

And  alas,  alas  .for  those  children  three, 

Who  shouted  and  cheered  in  their  pretty  glee  ! 


Rolling,  growing,  demolishing  all, 
On  and  on  went  the  terrible  ball  ; 
It  left  the  cattle  down  on  their  knees, 
It  crushed  the  fences  and  bent  the  trees  ; 
Even  the  hay-stacks  went  kcr-flop. 
It  would  n't  turn,  nor  it  would  n't  stop, 
But  still  rolled  on  in  steady   motion, 
Making  a  bee-line  for  the  ocean  ! 

With  laugh  and  shout  and  merry  hoot, 
Those  children  followed  in  glad  pursuit. 
Hooray!  hooray!"  they  cried  again, 
And  gave  the  chase  with  might  and  main 
16 


242  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

They  gave  the  chase  with  main  and  might, 
But  the  terrible  ball  rolled  out  of  sight. 

And  now  comes  the  saddest  part  of  all. 
(Oh  !  that  cruel,  wicked,  terrible  ball ! ) 
When  at  last  the  three  little  artless  boys, 
Tired  of  running  and  making  a  noise, 
Resolved  to  go  home  to  their  little  bed, 
Where,  oh !  where  was  that  cottage  red  ? 
.   Where,  oh  !  where  ?     Ask  the  terrible  ball  — 
Never  a  home  had  those  children  small. 
Gone,  clean  gone!  with  picket  and  paling  — 
And  all  their  joy  was  turned  to  wailing ! 


MORAL. 


Hence  it  is,  and  so  we  see 
Thus  and  so,  it  seems  to  me, 
As  I  'm  sure  you  '11  all  agree. 


A  BIRTHDA  Y  RHYME.  243 


A   BIRTHDAY   RHYME. 

TELL  me,  O  youth  so  straight  and  tall, 

So  glad  with  eager  thought ! 
Have  you  seen  of  late  a  bouncing  boy 

Brimful  of  merry  sport  ? 
Brimful  of  merry  sport  is  he, 

A  lad  of  fifteen  summers, 
With  velvet  lip  still  smooth  and  fair, 

But  a  fist  that  awes  all  comers. 

He  used  to  laugh  with  unconcern 

Whene'er  a  school-girl  met  him, 
Unconscious  quite  what  wondrous  power 

She  'd  have  in  time  to  fret  him. 
He  only  cared  for  "  fellows  "  then, 

And  ball,  and  "  tag,"  and  "  shinny," 
And  thought  a  chap  who  brushed  his  hair 

Was  just  a  fop  or  ninny. 

Somehow,  I  loved  this  bouncing  boy, 

Because  he  was  my  own  ; 
I  had  him  here  a  year  ago, 

And  don't  know  where  he 's  flown. 
I  don't  know  where  he's  flown,  and  yet 

Whenever  you  are  near  — 
It 's  very  odd  !  —  I  'm  reconciled, 

Because  you  grow  so  dear. 


244  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

You  bear  great  likeness  to  my  boy 
I  think,  and  —  strange  the  whim  !  — 

There's  that  in  you  which  I  have  prayed 
Might  come  in  time  to  him. 

Then  if  you  '11  stay,  my  dashing  youth, 

;  And  love  me,  like  the  other, 
•  I  '11  let  him  go,  and,  clasping  you, 
Be  still  a  happy  mother. 

So  hold  me  close,  my  bigger  boy, 

My  larger-hearted   Harry, 
With  broader  shoulders,  older  head, 

And  more  of  life  to  carry  ; 
Hold  close,  and  whisper,  heart  to  heart, 

Our  Lord  has  blessed  us  truly, 
Since  every  year  we  love  so  well, 

And  find  it  out  so  newly. 

With  deepened  joy  and  prayerful  love 

All  in  the  autumn's  splendor, 
I  hail  you,  boy  of  mine,  and    give 

A  welcome  proud  and  tender. 
'Tis  grand  to  take  the  birthdays  in, 

If,  while  the  years  we  're  counting, 
In  heart  and  soul,  in  hope  and  aim, 

We  steadily  keep  mounting. 


THE   GIRL   ACROSS   THE    WAY.  24$: 


THE   GIRL  ACROSS   THE   WAY. 

A    LITTLE    BOY'S    VALENTINE. 

LITTLE  girl  across  the  way, 

You  are  so  very  sweet, 
I  should  n't  be  a  bit  surprised 

If  you  were  good  to  eat. 

Some  day,  when  all  the  blinds  are  shut, 
And  Sis  is  inside  thrummin' 

(She's  takin'  music-lessons  now), 
And  horses  aint  a-comin', 

I  '11  run  across  and  turn  your  rope, 
Or  pull  you  in  your  wagon  ; 

But  don't  you  tell  that  I  said  so, 
'Cause  they  might  call.it  braggin.' 

If  you  would  only  come  to  me 
We'd  play  at  "Catch  and  Toss;" 

But  then  my  Ma  objects  to  girls, 
And  it  might  make  her  cross. 

Now  what  I  'd  like,  if  you  would  too, 

Would  be  to  go  and  play — 
Well,  all  the  time,  and  all  my  life, 

On  your  side  of  the  way. 


246  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 

I  don't  know  anybody  yet 
On  your  side  of  the  street, 

But  often  I  look  over  there 
And  watch  you  —  you  're  so  sweet ! 

When  I  am  big,  I  tell  you  what, 
I  won't  care  what  they  say, 

I  '11  go  across  and  stay  there  too, 
On  your  side  of  the  way. 


WILLIE.  247 


WILLIE. 

THREE-YEAR-OLD  WILLIE,  bare-footed  Willie, 

Willie,  with  hair  in  a  golden-thread  tangle ; 
Tottering  Willie,  self-helping  Willie, 

Child  in  whom  sweetness  and  poverty  wrangle  ; 
Willie,  whose  mother  toils  in  my  kitchen  ; 

Willie,  whose  father  carried  a  hod  ; 
Willie,  whose  childish  disdain  is  bolder 

Than  the  pride  of  the  emperor,  favored  of  God  — 

Why  dost  thou  knock  at  my  heart,  little  pauper, 

Bidding  me  love  thee,  entering  there, 
Sitting  beside  little  cherubs  who  blessed  me, 

Thy  manner  half  saucy,  half  debonair  ? 
With  garments  all  tattered  and  soiled,  little  Willie, 

And  face  all  begrimed  ?  'Tis  not  fitting,  you  know- 
Velvets  and  laces  are  mine,  naughty  Willie, 

And  poor  litttle  boys  should  not  come  to  me  so. 

The  chubby  intruder,  still  wickedly  smiling, 

And,  ah  !  what  a  shout  !  (is  he  laughing  at  me  ? 
He  surely  can't  take  in  a  word  I  am  saying) 

Now  rushes  upon  me,  and  climbs  to  my  knee. 
And  though    he  is  silent,   I  hear  him    quite  plainly - 

To  listening  hearts  a  baby  can  speak  — 
He  tells  me  (while  velvet  and  rags  are  blending 

And  his  unkempt  hair  is  brushing  my  cheek) : 


248  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES, 

"  I  'm  a  poor  little  fellow,  with  no  one  to  teach  me  : 

But  my  soul  is  a  new  one  —  fresh  from  God  ; 
And  he  gave  it  something  so  brave  and  holy 

It  never  can  turn  to  an  earthly  clod. 
What  though    the  gifts  of  the  purse  are  denied  me, 

Poverty  need  not  look  out  of  my  eyes  ; 
Though  it  surround  me,  the  bright  world  beyond  it 

Neither  its  warmth  nor  its  beauty  denies. 

"  The  birds  never  sing,  '  Little  Willie  is  ragged  ! ' 

Nor  the  flowers,  '  He  will  soil  us !  Take  him  away ! 
But  they  're  glad  when  I  happen  to  look  and  to  listen, 

And  the  sky  is  above  me  night  and  day. 
Did  God  make  .you  richer  because  you  were  better  ? 

And  what  if  my  mother  docs  cook  for  you, 
Isn't  she  cheerful?     With  half  of  her  trials 

Would  you  be  as  patient,  and  willing,  and  true  ? 

"  And  what  if  my  father,  with   hod  and  trowel, 

Carried  and  toiled   the  whole  day  long, 
Did  n't  he  comfort  my  mother  and  love  her  ? 

Did  n't  he  cheer  her  with  joke  and  song  ? 
I  never  saw  him.      One   bright  autumn  morning, 

Just  three  years  ago,  he  went  to  the  war  — 
Went  out  to  battle  for  you  and  your  country  : 

And  then  he  never  came  home  any  more. 

"  Nevermore  labored  with  hod  and  with  trowel, 
Never  came  back  with  his  joke  and  his  song. 

Mother  would  know  only  working  and  weeping 
If  I  were  not  sunny  and  careless,  and  strong.  • 


WILLIE.  249 

She  chides  me  and  kisses  me,  beats  me  and  blesses, 
And  prays  to  the  saints  that  her  boy  may  be  good  ; 

But  for  work,  she  would  keep  me  as  fresh  as  a  daisy, 
Not  ragged  and  soiled,  in  my  babyhood."  — 

Say  no  more,  Willie !    Mock  me  and  love  me  ! 

Into  my  heart  enter  blithesomely  still. 
Bright  little  soldier's  boy,  poor  little  worker's  boy, 

Shame  to  the  coward  who  uses  thee  ill  ! 


250  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

IF  cows  wore  satin  slippers, 
•  And  kits  were  dressed  in  silk, 
We'd  send  the  mice  to  dancing-school, 
And  beg  our  buttermilk. 


BUMBLE,  bramble,  which  came  first,  sir, 
Eggs  or  chickens  ?     Who  can  tell  ? 

I  '11  never  believe  that  the  first  egg  burst,  sir, 
Before  its  mother  was  out  of  her  shell. 


NOBODY  near   him,  all  in  the  dark, 
Hear  how  fierce  our  clog  can  bark  ! 
Somebody  coming,  by  light  of  day, 
See  how  doggie  scampers  away ! 


THE   SUN  AND    THE   STARS. 


251 


OH!  no, 
Tis  n't   so ! 
Papa's  watch 
Won't  go  ? 

It  must  go  — 
Guess  I  know ! 
Last  night 
I  wound  it  tight, 
And  greased  it  nice 
With  camphor-ice. 


THE  SUN  AND  THE  STARS. 

ONE  day,  when  the  sun  was  going  down, 

He  said  to  a  star  hard  by: 
Sparkle  your  best;  for  you  see,  my  friend, 

I  'm  going  out  of  the  sky." 

Now,  the  little  star  was  old  as  the  sun, 
Though  rather  small  of  his  age, 

So  he  kept  quite  still  in  the  yellow  light, 
And  looked  as  wise  as  a  sage. 

I  'm  going,  you  see  !  "  cried  the  sun  again, 
"  Going  right  out  of  the  sky !  " 


252  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

And  he  slid  away,  but  not  out  of  sight 
Of  that  little   star  hard  by. 

The  little  star,  peeping,  saw  him  go 
On  his  gorgeous  western  way  ; 

And  twinkled  with  fun,  as  he  said,  "  O  Sun  ! 
You  're  in  for  another  day  ! 

"  And  as  for  going  out  of  the  sky, 

Your  majesty  knows   you  can't  ; 
You  are  shining  somewhere,  full  and  strong, 
In  spite  of  your  rays  aslant." 

No  answer.     Then  the  star  grew  bright, 
And  sparkled  as  neighbors  came  ; 

He  told  the  joke  to  the  twinkling  crowd, 
And  they  laughed -the  sun  to  shame. 

One  gay  little  star  was  so  amused, 

That  he  shot  across  the  sky ; 
And  all  the  others  bobbed  and  blinked 

To  see  him  go  speeding  by. 

But  after  awhile,  a  rosy  light 
Appeared  on  the  eastern  side  ; 

And,  one  by  one,    the  stars  grew  shy, 
And  tried  in  the  sky  to  hide. 

"  Ho  !  ho  !  "  the  sun  broke  forth.     "  Ho  !  ho  ! 

Just  stay  where  you  are,  my  dears, 
And  shine  away,  for  you  can't  be  seen 
When  all  of  my  light  appears. 


THE  SUN  AND    THE   STARS. 


253 


"The  people  below  will  say  you  are  gone, 

Though  you  're  shining.     Think  of  that  ! 
Well,  they  thought  all  night  I  had  left  the  sky, 
So  it 's  only  tit  for  tat."  . 


2$4  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


LEARNING   TO   PRAY. 

KNEELING,   fair,  in  the  twilight  gray, 
A  beautiful  child  was  trying  to  pray  ; 
His  cheek  on  his  mother's  knee, 
His  bare  little  feet  half  hidden, 
His  smile  still  coming  unbidden, 
And  his  heart  brimful  of  glee. 

"  I  want  to  laugh.     Is  it  naughty  ?     Say, 
O  mamma  !  I  've  had  such  fun  to-day, 
I  hardly  can  say  my  prayers  — 
I  don't  feel  just  like  praying  ; 
I  want  to  be  out-doors  playing, 
And  run,  all  undressed,  down  stairs. 

"  I  can  see  the  flowers  in  the  garden  bed, 
Shining  so  pretty  and  sweet  and  red  ; 
And  Sammy  is  swinging,  I  guess. 
Oh  !  everything  is  so  fine  out  there, 
I  want  to  put  it  all  in  my  prayer, 
(Do  you  mean  I  can  do  it  by  '  Yes '  ?) 

"  When  I  say,  '  Now  I  lay  me,'    word  for  word, 
It  seems  to  me  as  if  nobody  heard. 

Would  '  Thank  you,  dear  God,'  be  right  ? 
He  gave  me  my  mother, 
And  papa,  and  brother  — 
O  mamma !  you'  nodded  I  might."  — 


LEARNING    TO  PRAY.  255 

Clasping  his  hands  and  hiding  his  face, 
Unconsciously  yearning  for  help  and  grace, 
The  little  one  now  began. 

His  mother's  nod  and  sanction  sweet 
Had  led  him  close  to  the  dear  Lord's  feet, 
And  his  words  like  music  ran. 

Thank  you  for  making  this  home  so  nice, 
The  flowers,  and  folks,  and  my  two  white  mice 
(I  wish  I  could  keep  right  on). 
I  thank  you  too  for  every  day  — 
Only  I  'm  'most  too  glad  to  pray 
Dear  God,  I  think  I  am  done. 

•  Now,  mamma,  rock  me — just  a  minute  — 
And  sing  the  hymn  with  '  darling '  in  it. 
I  wish  I  could  say  my  prayers  ! 
When  I  get  big,  I  know  I  can, 
Oh !  won't  it  be  nice  to  be  a  man, 
And  stay  all  night  down  stairs  ! " 

The  mother,  singing,  clasped  him  tight, 
Kissing  and  cooing  her  fond  "  Good  night," 
And  treasured  his  every  word  ; 

For  well  she  knew  that  the  artless  joy 
And  love  of  her  precious,  innocent  boy 
Were  a  prayer  that  her  Lord  had  heard. 


256  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


BENNY'S   BUTTONS. 

How  many  buttons  has  Benny, 

Counting  'em  six  for  a  penny  ? 

Why,  five  on  his  sacque, 

And  two  on  the  back, 

And  —  would  you  believe  ?  — 

A  pair  on  each  sleeve ; 

And  six  on  his  trowsers, 

Yes,  regular  rousers ! 

And  eight  on  his  vest  — 

A  grand  double-breast  — 

All  eight  in  full  sight 

When  buttoned  up  tight. 

Then  three  on  one  shoe, 

While  the  mate  has  but  two  ; 

And  one  at  the  end 

Of  his  top-snare,  depend. 

And,  ah  !  there 's  the  strap 

On  his  regiment-cap, 

It  begins  with  a  button 

And  ends  with  a  button  ; 

And  really  that's  all 

I  now  can  recall. 

So,  counting  them  six  for  a  penny 

How  many  buttons  has  Benny  ? 


A  NURSERY  RHYME  J'OR  BIG  FOLKS.          257 


WHAT  was  the  moon  a-spying 
Out  of  her  half-shut  eye  ? 

One  of  her  stars  went  flying 
Across  the  broad  blue  sky. 


A   NURSERY    RHYME    FOR   BIG   FOLKS. 

NOT  .only  the  little  toddlers, 

Perched  high  on  papa's  toe, 
Bound  for  a  ride  to  London  town, 
On  childish  journeys  go  — 
For  we  all  go  up,  up,  up, 

And  all  go  down,  down,  down-y, 
And  all  go  backward  and  forward, 
And  all  go  round,  round,  round-y. 

Still  do  we  reach  for  sunbeams, 

And  learn  the  rattle's  trick. 
The  great  big  watch  of  Father  Time  — 

How  we  love  to  hear  it  tick  ! 

To  pat  a  cake  for  our  Tommy, 

And  pat  a  cake  for  ourself — 
For  that  alone  we  labor  and  strive, 

And  hoard  up  our  golden  pelf. 

This  little  pig  goes  to  market  ; 
This  little  pig  stays  at  home  ; 
17 


258  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 

And  we  all  cry  "  Wee ! "  for  our  mammy 
Wherever  we  chance  to  roam. 

We  seek  our  bed  with  Sleepyhead, 
We  stay  a  while  with  Slow  ; 

And  fill  the  pot  with  Greedy,  glad 
To  sup  before  we  go. 

When  Jack  and  Jill  go  up  the  hill 
To  fetch  their  pail  o'  water, 

As  sure  as  Jack  comes  tumbling  down 
Poor  Jill  comes  tumbling  arter. 

Mistress  Marys  are  s^till  contrary, 

Marjorie  Daws  still  sell ; 
Mother  Hubbards  ransack  their  cupboards 

For  bones  for  their  ne'er-do-well. 

Jack  Homers  in  their  corners  still 

Do  ply  their  busy  thumb, 
And,  "What  a  big  boy  !  "  we  always  cry 

Whenever  we  see  the  plum. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "     "  A  pot  o'  beer/' 

Alack  the  bitter  wrong  ! 
That  grenadier  an  army  hath 
How  many  million  strong  ! 

Our  wise  men  into  brambles  still 
Do  jump  with  might  and  main  ; 

And  those  who  go  to  sea  in  bowls 
Rarely  come  back  again. 


FIRE-FLIES.  259 

And  don't  some  hearts,  deploring 
The  things  that  gnaw  and  harrow, 

Let  fall  the  wheelbarrow,  wife  and  all, 
When  lanes  are  rough  and  narrow  ? 

Ah  yes !  the  old  rhymes  suit  us 

As  well  as  ever  they  did  ; 
For  the  gist  of  our  lives,  from  first  to  last, 
Is  under  their  jingle  hid  — 
As  we  all  go  up,  up,  up, 

And  all  go  down,  down,  down-y, 
And  all  go  backward  and  forward, 
And  all  go  round,  round,  round-y. 


FIRE-FLIES. 

SEE  the  air  filling  near  by  and  afar  — 
A  shadowy  host  —  how  brilliant  they  are  ! 

Silently  flitting,  spark  upon  spark, 
Gemming  the  willows  out  in  the  dark  ; 

Waking  the  night  in  a  twinkling  surprise, 
Making  the  starlight  pale  where  they  rise  ; 

Snowing  soft  fire-flakes  into  the  grass, 
Lighting  the  face  of  each  daisy  they  pass  ; 

Dancing  like  jewels  high  up  in  the  pines  ; 
Drowsily  poised  on  the  low-swinging  vines 


260  RHYMX*   .l.VD   JINGLES. 

Startling  the  darkness,  over  and  over, 
Where  the  sly  pimpernel  kisses  the  clover  ; 

Suddenly  setting  their  tapers  around, 
Now  on  the  fences,  now  on  the  ground, 

Now  on  the  bushes  and  tree-tops,  and  then 
Pitching  them  far  into  darkness  again  ; 

There  like  a  shooting-star,  slowly  on  wing, 
Here  like  the  flash  of  a  dowager's  ring  ; 

Playing  their  pranks  of  living  and  dying 
All  in  an  instant,  merrily  flying  ; 

Setting  the  dark,  croaking  hollows  a-gleam, 
Spangling  the  gloom  of  the  ghoul-haunted  stream  ; 

Sweet  in  their  gentleness,  daring,  and  cheer, 
No  depth  too  dark  for  them,  no  place  too  drear  ; 

They  pulse   and  they  sparkle,  they  glimmer  and  glow, 
Teaching  a  lesson  wherever  they  go  : 

Ever  in  gentle  souls  shineth  a  light  — 
Trusting  it  ever,  no  gloom  can  affright. 


FULFIU.MKXT.  261 


FULFILLMENT. 

WAKING  in  May,  the  peach-tree  thought : 
"  Idle  and  bare,  and  weaving  naught ! 

Here  have  I  slept  the  winter  through  — 
I,  with  my  Master's  work  to  do ! " 

Started  the  buds.     The  blossoms  came, 
Till  all  the  branches  were  a-flame. 

She  rocked  the  birds  and  wove  the  green, 
A  busy  tree  as  ever  was  seen. 

Busy  and  blithe,  she  drank  the  dew, 

She  caught  the  sunbeams  gliding  through, 

She  drew  her  wealth  from  sky  and  soil, 
And  rustled  gayly  in  her  toil. 


Now,  see  the  peach-tree's  drooping   head, 
With  all  her  fruit  a-blushing  red ; 

Knowing  her  Master's  work  is  done, 
She  meekly  resteth  in  the  sun. 


262  RHYMES  AXD   JINGLES. 


RESOLUTION. 

IF  you've  any  task  to  do, 
Let  me  whisper,  friend,  to  you, 

Do   it. 

If  you  've  any  thing  to  say, 
True  and  needed,  yea  or  nay, 

Say  it. 

If  you've  any  thing  to  love, 
As  a  blessing  from  above, 

Love  it. 

If  you  Ve  any  thing  to  give, 
That  another's  joy  may  live, 

Give  it. 

If  some  hollow  creed  you  doubt, 
Though  the  whole  world  hoot  and  shout, 

Doubt  it. 

If  you  know  what  torch  to  light, 
Guiding  others  through  the  night, 

Light  it. 

If  you  Ve  any  debt  to  pay, 
Rest  you  neither  night  nor  day  — 

Pay  it. 


RESOLUTION.  263 

If  you  've  any  joy  to  hold, 
Next  your  heart,  lest   it    grow  cold, 
Hold  it. 

If  you  Ve  any  grief  to  meet, 
At  the  loving  Father's  feet, 

Meet  it. 

If  you  're  given  light  to  see 
What  a  child  of  God  should  be, 

See   it. 

Whether  life  be  bright  or  drear, 
There 's  a  message,  sweet  and  clear, 
Whispered  down  to  every  ear  — 

Hear  it ! 


264  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


HOW   THE   NEW  YEAR   CAME. 

THE  sun  was  sinking  out  of  sight. 

"  Bessie,"  said  Herbert,  "  have  you  heard  ? 

It's  really  true,  upon  my  word. 
This  year  is  going  away  to-night. 

It's  time  is  up,  they  say,  and  so 

At  midnight  it  will  have  to  go. 

And,  right  away,  another  year 

Will  come  along,,  a  real    new  year, 

As  soft  as  any  mouse  — 
So  soft,  we  '11  hardly  hear  it  creep  — 

Yes,  come  right  to  this  very  house, 
While  every  one 's  asleep  !  " 

Now,  Bessie's  eyes  grew  wide,  to  hear. 

"  Let 's  keep  awake,"  she  cried,  and  so 

We'll  see  one  come  and  see  one  go  — 
Two  years  at  once  !  Wont  that  be  queer  ? 

Let's  tell  the  New  Year  it  is  bad, 

We  want  the  one  we've  always  had, 
With  birds  and  flowers  and  things,  you  know, 

And  funny  ice  and  pretty  snow. 

It  had  my  birthday,  too,  in  May, 
And  yours  —  when  was  it  ?  and  you  know 

How  it  had  Fourth  o'  July  one  day, 
And  Christmas.     Oh!  it  must  tit  go!" 

Ha !  ha !  "  laughed  Herbert,  "  what  a  Bess 
This  year  was  new  when  first  it  came. 


HOW   THE  NEW   YEAR   CAME.  265 

The  next  one  will  be  just  the  same 

As  this  that 's  going  now,  I  guess. 

That 's  nothing.     But  what  bothers  me 
Is  how  the  change  is  going  to  be. 
I  can't  see  how  one  year  can  go 
And  one  can  come  at  midnight,  so 
All  in  a  minute  —  that's  the  bother! 

I  've  heard  them  say  '  the  rolling  year ' : 
You  'd  think  they  'd  roll  on  one  another, 

Unless  they  knew  just  how  to  steer." 

The  speck  of  time  'twixt  night  and  day 
Was  close  at  hand.     Herbert  and  Bess 
Had  won  their  parents'  smiling  "  yes  " 

To  watch  the  old  year  go  away. 

Nurse  on  the  lounge  found  easy  rest, 
Till  Bess  should  come  to  be  undrest ; 
All  but  the  children  were  asleep, 
And  years  might  roll,  or  years  might  creep, 
For  all  they  cared  ;  while  Bess  and  Bert, 

Who  never  stirred  and  scarcely  spoke, 
Watched  the  great  clock,  awake,  alert, 

All  breathless  for  the  coming  stroke. 

Soon  Bessie  whispered,  "  Moll  don't  care." 
Moll  was  her  doll.     And  Herbert  said, 
"  The  clock 's  so  far  up  overhead 

It  makes  me  wink  to  watch  it  there, 

The  great  tall  thing  !     Let 's  look  inside  !  " 
And  so  its  door  they  opened  wide  : 


266 


RHYMES  AND  JINGLES. 


- 

•-  Mirl 


HOW   THE  NEW    YEAR   CAME.  267 

TICK-A-TICK  !     How  loud  it  sounded  ! 
Bessie's  heart  with  wonder  bounded. 
How  the  great  round  thing  that  hung 
Down  the  middle,  swung  and  swung  ! 
Tick,  a-tick,  a-tick,  a-tick  — 
Dear,  how  loud  it  was,  and  quick  ! 
Tick-a,  tick-a,  tick-a,  tick-a ! 
Surely  it  was  growing  quicker  ! 
While  the  swinging  thing  kept  on, 
Back  and  forth,  and  never  done. 

There  !     It 's  coming  !     Loud  and  clear, 

Each  ringing  stroke  the  night  alarms. 

Bess,  screaming,  hid  in  Herbert's  arms. 
The  year  !  "  he  cried,  "  the  year  !  the  year  !  " 

"  Where  ? "  faltered   Bessie,  "  which  ?  where'bouts  ? " 

But  still  "  The  year  ! "  glad  Herbert  shouts  ; 

And  still  the  steady  strokes  rang  on 

Until  the  banished  year  was  gone. 

"We've  seen  the  Old  Year  out — hurrah!" 

"  Oh  !  oh  ! "  sobbed  Bessie,  "  call  mamma. 

I  don't  like  years  to  racket  so  ; 

It  frightens  me  to  hear  'em  go  ! " 

But  Herbert  kissed  away  her  tears, 

And,  gently  soothing  all  her  fears, 

He  heard  the  New  Year  coming  quick, 

Tick,  a-tick,  a-tick,  a-tick  ! 


268  RHYMES  AND   JL\GI.KS. 


THE  WIND   AND   THE   MOON. 

THE  wind  drove  the  moon 
To  a  cloud-built  cave, 

And  shut  her  in 

As  it  were  her  grave  ; 

The  cave  threw  wide 

A  silver  portal  — 
And  forth  she  came, 

Serene,  immortal ! 

He  piled  great  clouds 

With  angry  might, 
Till  lost  in  gloom 

Was  all  her  light ; 

The  clouds  a  moment 

Held  her  under, 
Then,  glorified, 

They  burst  asunder! 

The  wind  that  night 
Bemoaned  and  whistled 

Till  all  the  forest 

Groaned  and  bristled, — 


THE    WIND   AND    THE  MOON. 


269 


While  moonbeams 

stole 

To  tear-wet  pil- 
lows, 

And  chased  the  gloom 
From  graveyard  willows. 


2/0  RHYMES  AND   JINGLES. 


CHILDREN'S    HYMN. 

AIR,  "Little  Drops  of  Water." 

FROM  the  sunny  morning 
To  the  starry  night, 

Every  look  and  motion 
Meets  our  Father's  sight. 

From  our  earliest  breathing 

To  our  latest  year, 
Every  sound  we  utter 

Meets  our  Father's  ear. 

Through  our  earthly  journey, 

Wheresoe'er  we  go, 
Every  thought  and  feeling 

Doth  our  Father  know. 

Let  us  then  be  careful 
That  our  looks  shall  be 

Brave  and  kind  and  cheerful, 
For  our  Lord  to  see. 

Let  us  guard  each  accent  " 

With  a  holy  fear, 
Fit  our  every  saying 

For  our  Lord  to  hear. 


CHILDREN  ~S   H }  :iAV. 

Let  no  thought  within  us, 
Hidden  or  confessed/ 

Ever  bring  a  sorrow 

To  our  dear  Lord's  breast. 

Help  us,  O  our  Father  ! 

Hear  our  earnest  plea  — 
Teach  thy  little  children 

How  to  live  for  Thee! 


271 


HANS    BRINKER; 

OK,,    TEC  IE     SIL-VIEDR     SKZ-A.TE8. 


By  MRS.  MARY  MAPES  DODGE, 

of  "  Rhymes  and  Jingles,"  &>c.,  and  Editress  of  St.  Nicholas. 


One  vol.,  i2mo,  cloth,  with  Eight  Illustrations,  $1.50. 

Hans  Brinker ;  or.  The  Silver  Skates  is  one  of  those  stories 
which  is  destined  to  be  a  source  of  perennial  delight  to  generation 
after  generation  of  children.  It  tells  of  life  in  Holland — a  country 
which  changes  so  little  that  a  story  of  people  who  lived  there  twenty 
years  ago  might  be  told  of  to-day  as  well,  and  it  is  marked  throughout 
by  a  vivacity,  a  freshness,  and  a  healthy  vigor  which  goes  straight  to 
the  heart  of  every  reader  whether  he  be  old  or  young. 

From  lite  Nation. 

"The  authoress  has  shown,  in  her  former  work.-  for  the  young,  a  very  rare  ability 
to  meet  their  wants ;  but  she  has  produced  nothing  better  than  this  charming  tale — 
alive  with  incident  and  action,  adorned  rather  than  freighted  with  useful  fact?,  and 
moral  without  moralization." 

From  the  Atlantic  Monthly. 

'"Hans  Brinker'  is  a  charming  domestic  story,  which  is  addressed,  indeed,  to 
young  people,  but  which  may  be  read  with  pleasure  and  profit  by  their  elders.  *  * 
The  lessons  inculcated,  elevated  in  tone,  are  in  the  action  of  the  story  and  the  feel- 
ings and  aspirations  of  the  actors." 

From  the  Congregationalist. 

"For  children  what  could  be  better  as  a  Christmas  gift  than  a  copy  of  Mrs. 
Dodge's  Hans  Brinker;  or,  the  Silver  Skates,  of  which  we  are  now  given  a  new 
and  beautiful  edition?  This  is  one  of  the  most  charming  of  juvenile  stories,  dealing 
with  fresh  scenes  and  a  strange  life,  and  told  with  sweet  simplicity  and  great  beauty." 

From  the   Watchman  and  Reflector. 

"  It  has  fine  wit  and  natural  pathos,  and  abounds  in  sentiments  which  are  inspir- 
ing to  the  heart  of  any  reader,  young  and  old.  *  *  *  The  character  and  inci- 
dents arc  of  unusual  interest.  The  plot  is  »omewhat  intricate,  but  is  managed  with 
a  master's  skill.  The  tone  is  remarkably  pure,  and  the  lesson  which  the  story  itself 
presses  home  on  the  reader  is  in  the  highesc  degree  significant." 

From  the  Cleveland  Leader. 

"  Mrs.  Dodge  never  permits  her  story  to  lag,  and  the  bright  eyes  which  have 
scanned  its  opening  pages  will  not  be  content  till  they  have  followed  the  fascinating 
romance  to  its  close." 

From  Appleton's  Journal. 

"  A  better  present  to  a  youngster  of  the  right  mind  we  should  find  it  hard  to 
select." 

Sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  the  price  by  the  Publishers, 

SCRIBNER,     ARMSTRONG     &    CO., 
743    &    745     Broadway,     Xeu,     York. 


"Infinite  riches  in  a  little  room."—  MARLOWE. 


THE 


BRIC-A-BRAC  SERIES. 

Personal  Reminiscences  of  Famous  Poets  and  Novelists,  Wits  and 
Humorists,  Artists,  Actors,  Musicians,  and  the  like. 

EDITED   BY 

RICHARD    HENRY   STODDARD. 


The  volumes  already  issued  have  insured  the  BRIC-A-BRAC  SERIES  wide  and  permanent 
Popularity.  New  volumes  quite  as  interesting  and  valuable  as  those  already  published  will  be 
issued  at  intervals.  It  is  the  aim  to  gather  up  in  this  collection,  from  the  numerous  biog- 
raphies^ autobiographies,  and  memoirs  that  have  lately  appeared,  all  the  reminiscences  worth 
preservation  of  the  men  and  women  who  have  done  so  much  to  make  this  century  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  in  the  annals  of  English  L  iterature-  Occasionally,  too,  place  will  be  found  in 
the  volumes  for  some  of  the  more  notable  papers  regarding  distinguisJied  men  and  women, 
'which  form  so  important  a  part  of  the  magazine  literature  of  the  day.  Each  volume  ivill  bt' 
complete  in  itself.  A  careful  index  will  furnish  a  ready  guide  to  the  contents  of  the  differ- 
ent volumes,  in  which,  under  the  capable  editorship  O/MR.  R.  H.  STODDARD,  it  may  safely 
be  asserted  there  will  be  brought  together  a  fund  of  choice  and  fresh  anecdote  and  gossip, 
enough  not  only  to  justify  the  general  title  of  the  Series,  but  the  line  of  Marlowe  which  has 
been  selected  as  its  motto,  "  Infinite  riches  in  a  little  room."1 


Just  issued : 

PERSONAL     REMINISCENCES     BY     O'KEEFFE,     KELLY,     AND 

TAYLOR. 
PERSONAL    REMINISCENCES    BY    CORNELIA    KNIGHT    AND 

THOMAS    RAIKES. 

PERSONAL   REMINISCENCES   BY   MOORE   AND   JERDAN. 
THE  GREVILLE   MEMOIRS  :    A  JOURNAL  OF  THE   REIGNS  OF  KINGS 

GEORGE  THE  FOURTH  AND  WILLIAM  THE  FOURTH. 
PERSONAL    REMINISCENCES    BY    BARHAM,    HARNESS,    AND 

HODDER. 

PROSPER    MERIMEE'S     LETTERS    TO     AN    INCOGNITA;     WITH 

RECOLLECTIONS    BY    LAMARTINE   AND   GEORGE   SAND. 
ANECDOTE   BIOGRAPHIES   OF   THACKERAY   AND   DICKENS. 

PERSONAL   REMINISCENCES    BY    CHORLEY,    PLANCHE,    AND 
YOUNG. 

Each  one  volume,  square  I2mo,  cloth,  $1.50. 

Sent  to  any  address,  post-paid,  upon  receipt  of  the  price,  by 

SCRIBNER,  ARMSTRONG,  &    CO. 

New  York. 


FF 


L-MVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

*"***> 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 

mm  **  m.       ^  — .-- 


dOS-ANCE 


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